By Devin Katayama/KPR
Lexington, KY – Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holiday says international trips paid for by an education foundation did not lead to the decision to do further business with that foundation. The New York Times reported several states entered into agreements with Pearson after taking trips on it's foundation's dime. Times reporter Mike Winerip says it was the commissioners' decision to accept the invitation. He says,
"To me the burden of making the right decision isn't so much on Pearson. It's on these state commissioners. They're the ones that are publicly funded who are having these public contracts and who have the option. Pearson's not making them take the trips, they're doing that on their own."
Winerip says Pearson's bid was $2 million more than the lowest bidder. But KDE officials say the decision to contract with Pearson was based on its value, not on its price. Holliday says there were no ethical violations in his trips. And says his focus was to learn how other countries address similar educational and economic challenges.