Tuesday, May 8, 2012

NYT on Murdoch, Klein and Gorman

Peter Gorman's resignation as superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in June put Rupert Murdoch's new educational technology venture on the radar for many of us in this area.  Gorman took an executive post with the new education division of News Corp.,  working for former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein,  shortly before the British phone-hacking scandal rocked Murdoch's empire.

Today the New York Times reports on how the scandal has absorbed Klein's energy and sidetracked him from pursuing the educational venture. Gorman is cited as one of the "biggest names in education" hired to assist Klein.  "They’ll most likely carry out Mr. Klein’s vision without his full attention as long as News Corporation remains caught up in the hacking scandal," writes reporter Amy Chozick.

Meanwhile, yesterday's inbox brought the news that Wireless Generation,  an educational software and assessment company acquired by News Corp. in 2010,  has bought Intel-Assess, a California test-development company.

Intel-Assess  "helps school districts meet their instructional goals by providing well-researched,  rigorous assessment content to drive student achievement,"   the Wireless Generation release says.  "With the acquisition of Intel-Assess,  a premier developer of custom and finished education content,  Wireless Generation will significantly increase the number of assessment items and related tools available to complement its formative assessment platform.  In addition , the acquisition will help Wireless Generation make available high quality assessments aligned with the Common Core State Standards to customers in thousands of districts across the U.S."

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This has never been about what is right for education or kids. This is about the money. The Common Core is about the money, the testing is about the money, the books sold are about the money, the online learning is about the money and these "super" superintendents are about the money. Its all about the money!!!!!!

tarhoosier said...

Intel-Assess: I had to read that three times before I realized how it must be pronounced.

Anonymous said...

Pete lose any other accounts lately? Or was it just New York?

Anonymous said...

Oh my...
Gorman is cited as one of the "biggest names in education" hired...

I can only assume they asked no teachers in the area (CMS or otherwise) to comment on his plans, communication, management or vision.

His time here seems to have been only about making a big name for himself. How sad for the kids and teachers who are just little people.

Anonymous said...

So how long until CMS announces its contract with Intel-Assess? Or NC. Things just got even more lucrative for ol' Pete.