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{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
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{{Infobox company
{{Infobox publisher
| name = Pearson Education
| name         = Pearson Education Limited
| logo = Pearson plc 2025.svg
| image        = Pearson logo.svg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| parent      = [[Pearson plc]]
| industry =
| status      =
| genre =  
| founded     = {{start date and age|df=y|1844}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1998}}<ref name="Pearson Education launched"/>
| founder      =
| hq_location_city = [[London]]
| successor    =
| hq_location_country = England
| country      = [[United Kingdom]]
| num_locations =  
| headquarters = [[London]], [[England]]
| num_locations_year = <!-- Year of num_locations data (if known) -->
| distribution =
| area_served = Worldwide
| keypeople    = [[Andy Bird]] {{small|(CEO)}}
| products = [[Textbook]]s, e-textbooks, tests, assessments
| publications = [[Textbook]]s
| brands =
| topics      =
| services =  
| genre        =
| num_employees = {{circa|20,000}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Who we are |url=https://plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/who-we-are |website=pearson.com |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref>
| imprints    =
| num_employees_year = 2023
| revenue      =
| parent = [[Pearson plc]]
| numemployees = 32,000 (2020)
| divisions =  
| nasdaq      =
| subsid =  
| url          = {{URL|pearsoned.com}}
| website = {{URL|pearson.com}}
}}
}}


'''Pearson Education Limited''' is a British-owned education publishing and assessment service to schools and corporations, as well for students directly.  Pearson owns educational media brands including [[Addison–Wesley]], [[Peachpit]], [[Prentice Hall]], [[eCollege]], [[Longman]], [[Scott Foresman]], and others. Pearson is part of [[Pearson plc]], which formerly owned the ''[[Financial Times]]''. It claims to have been formed in 1840,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/us/en/files/Little%20Guide%20to%20Pearson%20pdf%20220217.pdf |title=The little guide to Pearson |publisher=[[Pearson plc]] |date=2020 |access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> with the current incarnation of the company created when Pearson plc purchased the education division of [[Simon & Schuster]] (including [[Prentice Hall]] and [[Allyn & Bacon]]) from [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] and merged it with its own education division, Addison-Wesley [[Longman]], to form Pearson Education. Pearson Education was rebranded to Pearson in 2011 and split into an International and a North American division.
'''Pearson Education''', (branded as '''Pearson''' since 2011) is the educational publishing and services subsidiary of the international corporation [[Pearson plc]]. Formed in 1998, when Pearson plc acquired [[Simon & Schuster]]'s educational business and combined it with Pearson's existing education company [[Addison-Wesley]] [[Longman]].<ref name="Pearson Education launched"/> Pearson Education was rebranded as Pearson in 2011.<ref name="About Us 2011"/> In 2016, the diversified parent corporation Pearson plc rebranded to focus entirely on education publishing and services; as of 2023, Pearson Education is Pearson plc's main subsidiary.<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022"/><ref name="rebrand" />


Although Pearson generates approximately 60 percent of its sales in North America, it operates in more than 70 countries. Pearson International is headquartered in London, and maintains offices across Europe, Asia and South America. Its online chat support is based in the [[Philippines]]. Pearson North America is headquartered at [[330 Hudson]] in New York City, [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pearson.com/contact-us/head-offices.html|title=Contact Us|access-date=1 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319023548/https://www.pearson.com/contact-us/head-offices.html|archive-date=19 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It previously was located in [[Upper Saddle River, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/pearson-trims-upper-saddle-river-employees-sheds-19-cites-shift-to-digital-1.609979|title=Pearson trims Upper Saddle River employees|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> Pearson International is headquartered at 80 Strand, London, UK. Pearson Italia SpA, also known as ''Pearson Paravia Bruno Mondadori'', was created through the purchase of PBM Editori, which was, in turn, a merge of Paravia (based in [[Turin]]) and Bruno Mondadori (based in [[Milan]]).
In 2019, Pearson Education began phasing out the prominence of its hard-copy textbooks in favor of digital textbooks, which cost the company far less, and can be updated frequently and easily.<ref name="BBC July 2019"/>
As of 2023, Pearson Education has testing/teaching centers in over 55 countries worldwide; the UK and the U.S. have the most centers.<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022">{{cite web |author1=[[Pearson plc]] |title=Form 20-F: Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/files/pearson-form-20-f-fy22.pdf |website=plc.pearson.com |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |access-date=13 September 2023 |date=31 March 2023}}</ref> The headquarters of parent company Pearson plc are in London, England.<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022"/> Pearson Education's U.S. headquarters were in [[Upper Saddle River, New Jersey]] until the headquarters were closed at the end of 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moss |first1=Linda |title=Pearson trims Upper Saddle River employees |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/pearson-trims-upper-saddle-river-employees-sheds-19-cites-shift-to-digital-1.609979 |work=[[NorthJersey.com]] |date=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321054304/http://www.northjersey.com/news/pearson-trims-upper-saddle-river-employees-sheds-19-cites-shift-to-digital-1.609979 |archive-date=21 March 2015 |access-date=14 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Most of Pearson Education's printing is done by third-party suppliers.<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022"/>


==Imprints==
== History==
Pearson has a number of [[book publishing|publishing]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprints]]:
 
=== Early history ===
Following the British government's acquisition and nationalization of several of [[Pearson plc|Pearson]]'s aviation, fuel, and energy divisions in the early 1940s,<ref name="IDCH">{{cite book |editor1-last=Long |editor1-first=Steven |editor2-last=Jacques |editor2-first=Derek |editor3-last=Kepos |editor3-first=Paula |title=International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 207 |date=2019 |publisher=[[St. James Press]] / [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] [[Cengage]] |chapter=Pearson plc|oclc=1066283259 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=S. Pearson and Son |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/S._Pearson_and_Son |website=[[Grace's Guide]] |access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref> the diversified multinational conglomerate entered the education market.<ref name="Global Experience">{{cite book |last1=Christensen |first1=Jens |title=Global Experience Industries |date=2009 |publisher=[[Aarhus University Press]] |isbn=978-87-7124-581-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j9cKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT136}}</ref> It acquired the textbook publisher [[Longman]] in 1968.<ref name="Global Experience"/>
 
In the late 1980s and 1990s, Pearson plc divested further from a number of its industries and acquired more educational publishing companies, and its education publishing operations became steadily larger and more significant.<ref name="IDCH"/><ref name="timeline">{{cite web |title=Pearson |url=https://ulib.niu.edu/publishers/Pearson.htm |website=[[Northern Illinois University]] Libraries |access-date=8 September 2023}}</ref> In 1988, Pearson plc purchased [[Addison-Wesley]], the sixth-largest publisher of textbooks in the U.S.,<ref>{{cite news |title=Pearson to acquire Addison-Wesley for $283 million |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/02/15/Pearson-to-acquire-Addison-Wesley-for-283-million/2607571899600/ |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=[[United Press International|UPI]] |date=15 February 1988}}</ref> and merged it with Pearson's educational books subsidiary Longman to create Addison-Wesley Longman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Addison-Wesley to Be Bought for $283 Million |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-16-fi-43156-story.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=16 February 1988}}</ref><ref name="timeline"/> In 1996, it acquired [[HarperCollins|HarperCollins Educational Publishing]] and merged it with Addison-Wesley Longman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilpin |first1=Kenneth N. |title=Pearson to Buy a Publisher From News Corp. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/10/business/pearson-to-buy-a-publisher-from-news-corp.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=10 February 1996}}</ref>
 
[[Marjorie Scardino]], who was CEO of Pearson plc from 1997 to 2013, increasingly focused the company on education, emphasizing acquisitions in the sector.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baird |first1=Dugald |last2=Sabbagh |first2=Dan |title=Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino to step down |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/03/pearson-marjorie-scardino-step-down |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=3 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |title=Scardino, Chief of Pearson, to Step Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/business/media/scardino-ceo-of-pearson-to-step-down.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=3 October 2012}}</ref> In 1998, Pearson plc purchased the education division of [[Simon & Schuster]], which included [[Prentice Hall]], [[Allyn & Bacon]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Mark |title=Pearson Hopes To 'Widen the Definition Of Education' |url=https://www.edweek.org/education-industry/pearson-hopes-to-widen-the-definition-of-education/2001/02 |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[Education Week]] |date=21 February 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Selingo |first1=Jeffrey J. |title=British Publisher Announces Plan to Buy Simon & Schuster's Textbook Division |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/british-publisher-announces-plan-to-buy-simon-schusters-textbook-division-103710/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]] |date=19 May 1998}}</ref> and parts of [[Macmillan Inc.]] including the Macmillan name.<ref name="dustbin">{{cite news |title=Macmillan Rises from the Dustbin |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/3303-macmillan-rises-from-the-dustbin.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=12 October 2007}}</ref><ref name="Arm Now">{{cite news |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |title=Holtzbrinck's U.S. Arm Now Macmillan |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/612-holtzbrinck-s-u-s-arm-now-macmillan.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=9 October 2007}}</ref> Later in 1998, Pearson merged with Simon & Schuster's educational business with Addison Wesley Longman to form '''Pearson Education'''.<ref name="Pearson Education launched">{{cite web |title=Pearson Education: World's Leading Education Business Is Launched |url=http://www.pearson.com/news/contents/headline/current/educate.htm/ |website=Pearson.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990224164746/http://www.pearson.com/news/contents/headline/current/educate.htm/ |archive-date=24 February 1999 |date=30 November 1998}}</ref>


{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
Pearson Education sold and divested most of its Simon & Schuster divisions in 1999.<ref>
* [[Addison-Wesley Professional]] (formerly Addison Wesley)<ref name=tpa>[http://www.publisherlookup.org.uk/publishers/showpublisher.php?publisherid=16 Pearson Education Ltd], [[The Publishers Association]], 16 April 2008 (retrieved 8 February 2012)</ref>
*{{cite web |date=24 May 1999 |title=Pearson Sells Two Former S&S Units |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990524/32256-pearson-sells-two-former-s-amp-s-units.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=PublishersWeekly.com}}
* [[Adobe Press]]
*{{cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |date=31 May 1999 |title=Wiley, Kluwer Acquire Two Pearson Units |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990531/35347-wiley-kluwer-acquire-two-pearson-units.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=PublishersWeekly.com}}
* [[Allyn & Bacon]]
*{{cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |date=31 May 1999 |title=Six Macmillan Library Kids Imprints Closed |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990531/40646-six-macmillan-library-kids-imprints-closed.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=PublishersWeekly.com}}
* BBC Active<ref name=tpa/>
*{{cite web |date=28 June 1999 |title=Macmillan Library Units to Join Gale |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990628/34076-macmillan-library-units-to-join-gale.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=PublishersWeekly.com}}
* [[Benjamin Cummings]]
*{{cite web |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |last2=Baker |first2=John F. |date=5 July 1999 |title=IDG Books Buys Macmillan General Reference |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990705/24783-idg-books-buys-macmillan-general-reference.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=PublishersWeekly.com}}
* [[Causeway Press]]<ref name=tpa/>
</ref> It sold [[Silver Burdett]] Ginn Religion, a Catholic publishing division it operated under the [[Scott Foresman]] imprint, to [[RCL Benziger]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-06 |title=RCL Publishing LLC ("RCL Benziger"), a CFM Religion Publishing Group LLC division, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, a Scott Foresman imprint, from Pearson Education |url=http://www.wicksgroup.com/newsContent.asp?pageID=77&newsID=15 |website=Wicks Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015420/http://www.wicksgroup.com/newsContent.asp?pageID=77&newsID=15 |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> In 2007, Pearson Education sold the Macmillan name to [[Holtzbrinck Publishing Group]],<ref name="dustbin"/><ref name="Arm Now"/> which had purchased Macmillan Publishing Ltd. in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holtzbrinck |url=https://ulib.niu.edu/publishers/Holtzbrinck.htm |website=[[Northern Illinois University]] - University Libraries |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>
* [[Cisco Press]]
* [[Edexcel]]<ref name=tpa/>
* Exam Cram
* [[FT Press]] (formerly FT Prentice Hall)<ref name=tpa/>
* [[Ginn & Company]] [[Edwin Ginn]]<ref name=tpa/>
* Harvester Wheatsheaf<ref name=tpa/>
* [[IBM Press]]
* [[InformIT (publisher)|InformIT]]
* [[LifeBound]]
* [[Macromedia Press]]
* [[Maths Champs]]
* [[MySQL Press]]
* [[New Riders Press|New Riders]]
* [[Novell Press]]
* [[Oliver & Boyd]]<ref name=tpa/>
* [[Payne Galway]]
* [[Peachpit]]
* Pearson Custom Publishing<ref>See the entry for "Pearson Custom Publishing" [under "U.S. College Group (Higher Education)"] at {{cite web
|url         = http://www.bookjobs.com/view-publisher-profile/76
|title      = Profile / PEARSON GENERAL INFO
|publisher  = [[Association of American Publishers]], Inc.
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222032800/http://www.bookjobs.com/view-publisher-profile/76
|archive-date = 22 December 2015
|access-date  = 21 January 2016
|url-status    = live
|date        = 2016
}}</ref>
* [[Longman|Pearson Longman]] (formerly Longman)<ref name=tpa/>
* [[Pi Press]]
* [[Pitman (publisher)|Pitman]]<ref name=tpa/>
* [[Prentice Hall]]<ref name=tpa/>
* [[Propero]]
* [[Puffin Books|Puffin]]<ref name=tpa/>
* [[Que Publishing]]
* [[Rigby (publisher)|Rigby]]<ref name=tpa/>
* [[SAMS Publishing]]
* [[VangoBooks]] (textbooks)
* [[Wharton School Publishing]], with [[Wharton School]]
* [[York Notes]]<ref name=tpa/>
}}


==Logo==
In 2000, Pearson acquired Virtual University Enterprises, an electronic testing company founded in 1994, and renamed it Pearson VUE.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who is Pearson VUE and What You Should Know Before Showing Up |url=https://emtprep.com/extra/nremt-exams/who-is-pearson-vue-and-what-you-should-know-before-showing-up |website=EMTprep |access-date=21 February 2024}}</ref> According to the company, as of 2023, it delivers numerous skills tests and certification tests electronically in over 180 countries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hameed |first1=Shaj |title=Pearson VUE's innovative solutions revolutionise testing and certification in the Middle East |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/resources/pearson-vues-innovative-solutions-revolutionise-testing-and-certification-in-the-middle-east |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=[[Arabian Business]] |date=24 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Spring |first1=Joel |title=American Education |date=2015 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O81gCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT30}}</ref>
Pearson's logo is the unconventional symbol known as the [[interrobang]] (‽), a combination of a question mark and an exclamation mark, meant to convey "the excitement and fun of learning".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf|title=Pearson Brand Guidelines: Logo|date=2016|publisher=Pearson.com|access-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312102802/https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf|archive-date=March 12, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


==Partnerships==
=== Pearson formation and rebranding ===
Pearson has partnered with five other higher-education publishers to create [[CourseSmart]], a company developed to sell college textbooks in eTextbook format on a common platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coursesmart.com/aboutus?aboutview=media#pressedmap|title=New Agreement Makes eTextbooks Available to Students|access-date=20 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918005227/http://www.coursesmart.com/aboutus?aboutview=media#pressedmap|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2010, Pearson agreed to a five-year, $32&nbsp;million, contract with the [[New York State Department of Education]] to design tests for students attending grades 4 through 8.
Pearson Education was rebranded as simply '''Pearson''' in 2011,<ref name="About Us 2011">{{cite web |title=About Pearson |url=http://www.pearsoned.com/about-us/ |website=pearsoned.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013025843/http://www.pearsoned.com/about-us/ |archive-date=13 October 2011}}</ref> and split into Pearson North America and Pearson International.<ref name="my country">{{cite journal |last1=McCleery |first1=Alistair |last2=Bold |first2=Melanie Ramdarshan |title='What is my country?': Supporting Small Nation Publishing |journal=Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies |date=2012 |volume=6 |issue=1 |page=119 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/79497117.pdf#page=5 |publisher=[[Aberdeen University Press]]|doi=10.57132/jiss.74 }}</ref> A restructuring announced in 2013 combined Pearson North America and Pearson International into one Pearson company<ref name="Times 2015">{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=Jenny |title=Pearson sells the Financial Times to Japanese newspaper Nikkei for £844m |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/pearson-sells-the-financial-times-to-japanese-newspaper-nikkei-for-pound844m-rq9z8rhg97s |access-date=11 September 2023 |work=[[The Times]] |date=23 July 2015}}</ref> organised around three global lines of business: School, Higher Education, and Professional.<ref name="About us 2013">{{cite web |title=About us: Our qualifications history |url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/about-us/about-pearson/our-history.html |website=qualifications.pearson.com |access-date=11 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="Global Leaders 2014">{{cite news |title=Global Publishing Leaders 2014: Pearson |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/63065-global-publishing-leaders-2014-pearson.html |access-date=11 September 2023 |work=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=27 June 2014}}</ref>


GreyCampus partnered with Pearson for higher-education teaching-learning solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2019}} under the Learningware brand.<ref name="Learningware Award at WES 2012">{{cite web |url=http://wes.eletsonline.com/2012/wes-2012-award-winners/|title= Learningware Award at WES 2012 : Jury Choice for Best Technology Solution for Higher Education Institutions}}</ref>
Following the sale of its financial news publications ''[[Financial Times]]'' and ''[[The Economist]]'' in 2015, Pearson plc rebranded in January 2016 to focus solely on education, and the corporation adopted a new logo.<ref name="rebrand">{{cite news |last1=Cowdrey |first1=Katherine |title=Pearson rebrand to reflect 100% focus on education |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-rebrands-reflect-100-focus-education-319864 |access-date=12 September 2023 |work=[[The Bookseller]] |date=7 January 2016}}</ref> The logo features the [[interrobang]] (‽), a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point, to convey a "combination of excitement, curiosity and individuality"<ref name="rebrand"/> and "the excitement and fun of learning".<ref>{{cite web |title=Logo: The Interrobang |url=https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf |website=pearson.com |access-date=12 September 2023 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312102802/https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Que Publishing, a publishing imprint of Pearson-based out of Seattle, partnered with [[AARP]] to develop and add to a series of technology books for seniors.<ref name="New Tech Books Help People 50+ Get Savvy">{{cite web |url=http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/press-center/info-11-2014/iphone-for-seniors.html|title=New Tech Books Help People 50+ Get Savvy}}</ref> The series, which includes ''My iPad For Seniors,'' and ''My Social Media for Seniors,'' are large-print and colourful.
In late 2025, Pearson VUE announced it would rebrand as simply '''Pearson''', with its assessment segment identified as '''Pearson Professional Assessments'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson VUE to rebrand as Pearson Professional Assessments |url=https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/about/news/2025/pearson-vue-to-rebrand-as-pearson-professional-assessments.html |website=www.pearsonvue.com |access-date=30 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213043502/https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/about/news/2025/pearson-vue-to-rebrand-as-pearson-professional-assessments.html |archive-date=13 December 2025 |date=18 November 2025}}</ref>


==Errors in tests==
=== Digital transformation ===
{{Use American English|date=September 2020}}
In 2019, Pearson announced it would begin the process of phasing out the publishing of printed textbooks, in a plan to move into a more [[digital first]] strategy.<ref name="BBC July 2019">{{cite news |title=Education publisher Pearson to phase out print textbooks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48998789 |access-date=12 September 2023 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 July 2019}}</ref> [[Digital textbook|E-textbooks]] will be updated frequently, while printed books will be updated less often.<ref name="BBC July 2019"/> Students wanting printed books will need to rent them.<ref name="BBC July 2019"/> As of 2019, the firm received more than half of its annual revenues from digital sales,<ref name="BBC July 2019"/> and the US accounted for 20 percent of Pearson's annual revenue coming from courseware.<ref name="BBC July 2019"/>
In the spring of 2012, tests that Pearson designed for the [[NYSED]] were found to contain over 30 errors, which caused controversy. One of the most prominent featured a passage about a talking pineapple on the 8th Grade ELA test (revealed to be based on [[Daniel Pinkwater]]'s ''The Story of the Rabbit and the Eggplant'', with the eggplant changed into a pineapple). After public outcry, the NYSED announced it would not count the questions in scoring.<ref>{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Gail|title=A Very Pricey Pineapple|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/opinion/collins-a-very-pricey-pineapple.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 April 2012|access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> Other errors included a miscalculated question on the 8th Grade Mathematics test regarding [[astronomical unit]]s, a 4th grade math question with two correct answers, errors in the 6th grade ELA scoring guide, and over twenty errors on foreign-language math tests.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haimson|first=Leonie|title=Pineapplegate continues, with 20 more errors, and finally an apologia from Pearson|date=9 May 2012|url=http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2012/05/pineapplegate-continues-with-20-more.html|publisher=NYC Public School Parents|access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> In May 2015, British comedian [[John Oliver (comedian)|John Oliver]] analysed problems with Pearson's standardized tests and the company's greater lack of accountability on his [[HBO]] series ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver|Last Week Tonight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/05/04/john-oliver-rips-standardized-testing-with-help-from-a-dancing-monkey-on-last-week-tonight/|title=John Oliver Rips Standardized Testing With Help From a Dancing Monkey on 'Last Week Tonight'|author=Sarene Leeds|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=4 May 2015}}</ref>


==Technology products==
In 2019, Pearson sold its US K-12 courseware business to the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management,<ref>{{cite web| last = Wan| first = Tony| title = Finally: Pearson Sells Its US K-12 Courseware Business—for $250 Million*| work = EdSurge| access-date = 13 October 2019| date = 18 February 2019| url = https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-02-18-finally-pearson-sells-its-us-k-12-courseware-business}}</ref> which rebranded it as Savvas Learning Company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-06 |title=Pearson K12 Spinoff Rebranded as 'Savvas Learning Company' |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-10-29-former-pearson-k-12-courseware-business-rebrands-as-savvas-learning |access-date=2020-08-31 |website=Market Brief}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Molnar |first1=Michele |title=Pearson K12 Spinoff Rebranded as 'Savvas Learning Company' |url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/pearson-k12-spinoff-rebranded-savvas-learning-company/ |website=EdWeek |access-date=1 February 2024 |date=6 May 2020}}</ref> In 2019, Pearson also sold its remaining 25% stake in [[Penguin Random House]] to [[Bertelsmann]].<ref name="retire">{{cite web|last=Calatayud |first=Adria |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pearson-ceo-to-retire-and-company-will-sell-remaining-penguin-random-house-stake-2019-12-18 |title=Pearson CEO to Retire and company will sell remaining Penguin Random House stake |website=MarketWatch |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>
Pearson's products include [[MyMathLab]] and [[Mastering Platform]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/09/online_college_classes_textbook_companies_offer_courses_with_minimal_university.html|title=College in a Box|last=Kahn|first=Gabriel|date=2014-09-04|work=Slate|access-date=2018-06-15|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}</ref>


=== PowerSchool (2006-2015)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.powerschool.com/company/#:~:text=Is%20PowerSchool%20owned%20by%20Apple,Partners,%20Pearson,%20and%20Apple. |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=www.powerschool.com}}</ref> ===
In 2022, Pearson Education announced that they intended to sell their digital textbooks as [[NFT]]s, in order to profit from secondhand sales.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pearson plans to sell its textbooks as NFTs|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/aug/02/pearson-plans-to-sell-its-textbooks-as-nfts}}</ref>
In 2006, Pearson acquired PowerSchool, a student information system, from Apple. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eschoolnews.com/2006/05/26/pearson-buys-apples-powerschool/|title=Pearson buys Apple's PowerSchool|date=2006-05-26|website=eSchool News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> PowerSchool was a profitable product for Pearson. In 2014, it generated $97 million in revenue and $20 million in operating income. In 2015, Pearson sold PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350 million cash.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-06-18-pearson-to-sell-powerschool-to-vista-equity-partners-for-350m|title=Pearson to Sell PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350M – EdSurge News|date=2015-06-18|website=EdSurge|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>


===Poptropica===
In 2022, Pearson acquired ClutchPrep, a Miami-based edtech startup that offers sample questions, test prep and college exam prep video guides. The service has been renamed Channels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clutch Prep acquired by Pearson|url=https://refreshmiami.com/clutch-preps-journey-from-startup-to-exit-what-a-run-it-was/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pearson+ Releases Curated Video & Practice Feature to Enhance Learning Experiences for All College Students|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearson-releases-curated-video--practice-feature-to-enhance-learning-experiences-for-all-college-students-301599800.html}}</ref>
In 2007, the company developed the youth-oriented [[Online game|online]] quest game ''[[Poptropica]]'', through its Family Education Network. In 2015, Pearson's Family Education Network, along with Poptropica, were sold to the London-based investment group Sandbox Partners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-05-26-family-education-network-sold|title=Family Education Network Sold - EdSurge News|date=26 May 2015}}</ref>


===Cogmed===
==Imprints==
Pearson owns [[Cogmed]], a [[brain fitness]] and [[working memory training]] program founded in 1999 by Swedish researcher Torkel Klingberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cogmed.com/history|title=Cogmed Working Memory Training – History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/Educationnews/TorkelKlingberg.aspx|title=Torkel Klingberg}}</ref>
Pearson has a number of [[book publishing|publishing]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprints]], including:


===StatCrunch===
* BBC Active (joint venture)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rights & licensing: BBC Active |url=https://www.pearson.com/international-schools/rights-and-licensing.html.html |website=Pearson.com |access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref>
In 2016, Pearson acquired [[StatCrunch]], a statistical analysis tool created by Webster West in 1997. Pearson had already been the primary distributor of [[StatCrunch]] for several years.<ref>[http://www.pearsoned.com/news/pearson-acquires-major-statistical-software-firm-integrated-analytics/ "Pearson Acquires Major Statistical Software Firm, Integrated Analytics"] ''Pearson'' (28 July 2016)</ref>
* InformIT<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
** [[Addison-Wesley Professional]]<ref name="Who is InformIT">{{cite web |title=Who is InformIT |url=https://www.informit.com/ |website=InformIT.com |access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref>
** [[Adobe Press]]<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
** [[Cisco Press]]<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
** [[FT Press]]<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
** [[Peachpit Press]]<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
** Que Publishing<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
** [[Sams Publishing]]<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
* [[Longman]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Financial Statements |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/annual-report-2022/Financial_Statements_2022.pdf |website=plc.pearson.com |publisher=[[Pearson plc]] |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=March 2023}}</ref>
* Rigby (outside the United States, where the imprint is owned by [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Rigby |url=https://www.pearson.com/en-au/schools/primary/literacy/rigby/ |website=Pearson.com |access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref>
* [[York Notes]] (partnership)<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKinder |first1=Helen |title=Meet Helen – answering all your York Notes customer service needs! |url=https://www.yorknotes.com/news/meet-helen-answering-all-your-york-notes-customer-service-needs |website=[[York Notes]] |access-date=8 September 2023 |date=16 June 2020}}</ref>


== InformIT ==
== InformIT ==
{{redirect|InformIT|other uses|InformIT (disambiguation)}}
InformIT, a subsidiary of Pearson Education, is an online book vendor and an [[electronic publisher]] of technology and education content. It is headquartered in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite web |title=InformIT Promotions |url=https://www.informit.com/newsletters/whatsnew.aspx?ni=101&st=66364 |website=informit.com |access-date=14 September 2023 |quote=2023 Pearson Education, InformIT. All rights reserved. 800 East 96th Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46240}}</ref>
{{split|InformIT (publisher)|date=March 2019}}
 
<!--{{subst:move|InformIT}}-->
It publishes books, [[e-book]]s, and videos, and its imprints include [[Addison-Wesley Professional]], [[Cisco Press]], Pearson IT Certification, Que Publishing, and [[Sams Publishing]].<ref name="Who is InformIT"/>
{{anchor|InformIT (publisher)|informit}}
InformIT, a subsidiary of Pearson Education, is an online book vendor and an [[electronic publisher]] of technology and education content.


{{Infobox publisher
InformIT.com is one of the websites of the Pearson Technology Group,<ref name="peachpit/informit">{{cite web |title=Redesigning a Big Umbrella of Websites: The Informit CSS Overhaul |url=https://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=170499 |website=peachpit.com |access-date=14 September 2023 |date=5 November 2004}}</ref> and one of several sites in the InformIT Network.<ref name="InformIT Network">{{cite web |title=About the InformIT Network |url=https://www.informit.com/about/network.aspx |website=informit.com |access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref> The site features free articles, blogs, and podcasts on IT topics and products, as well as a bookstore carrying all titles from its imprints.<ref name="InformIT Network"/>
| name        = InformIT
 
| image        =
Other sites in the InformIT Network include Peachpit.com.<ref name="peachpit/informit"/> [[Peachpit]] is a publisher that has been producing books on graphic design, desktop publishing, multimedia, web design and development, digital video, and general computing since 1986.<ref name="InformIT Network"/> Peachpit is a publishing partner for Adobe, Apple, Macromedia, and others.<ref name="InformIT Network"/>
| parent      = Pearson Education
 
| status      =
In 2001, the Pearson Technology Group and O'Reilly Media LLC formed a joint partnership called [[Safari Books Online]], to offer a web-based electronic library of technical and business books from InformIT's imprint partners and [[O'Reilly Media]].<ref>{{cite web |title=O'Reilly and Pearson Launch Joint Venture |url=https://www.oreilly.com/pub/pr/922 |website=oreilly.com |access-date=14 September 2023 |date=1 October 2001}}</ref> The InformIT Network offers access to this service via its web sites.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.informit.com/about/# |website=informit.com |access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref> Pearson sold its interest in Safari Books Online to O'Reilly in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O’Reilly |first1=Tim |title=O'Reilly purchases Pearson's stake in Safari |url=http://radar.oreilly.com/2014/08/safari-acquisition.html |website=radar.oreilly.com |access-date=14 September 2023 |date=4 August 2014}}</ref>
| founded      =
 
| founder      =
==Technology products==
| successor    =
Pearson's products include [[MyMathLab]] and [[Mastering Platform]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/09/online_college_classes_textbook_companies_offer_courses_with_minimal_university.html|title=College in a Box|last=Kahn|first=Gabriel|date=2014-09-04|work=Slate|access-date=2018-06-15|issn=1091-2339}}</ref>
| country      = United States
| headquarters = [[Carmel, Indiana]]
| distribution =
| keypeople    =
| publications = Books, [[e-book]]s, and videos
| topics      = Technology
| genre        =
| imprints    = Addison-Wesley Professional, Cisco Press, IBM Press, Pearson IT Certification, Prentice Hall Professional, Que Publishing, Sams Publishing, and VMware Press
| revenue      =
| numemployees =
| nasdaq      =
| url         = {{URL|informit.com}}
}}


InformIT.com is one of the websites of the Pearson Technology Group, and one of several sites in the ''InformIT Network''. The site features free articles, blogs, and podcasts on IT topics and products, as well as a bookstore carrying all titles from these imprints. Publishing imprints represented on InformIT.com<ref>[http://www.informit.com/about/ InformIT network of publishing imprints]</ref> include [[Addison-Wesley]] Professional, [[Cisco Press]],<ref name=cisco>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Oct_22/ai_79331377 Safari Tech Books Online Named Exclusive Online Provider of Cisco Press Books]</ref> [[IBM Press]], [[Prentice Hall]] Professional Technical Reference, [[Que Publishing]], and [[Sams Publishing]].
In 2006, Pearson School Systems, a division of Pearson Education, acquired PowerSchool, a student information system, and parent portal, from [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]; terms of the deal were not disclosed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eschoolnews.com/2006/05/26/pearson-buys-apples-powerschool/|title=Pearson buys Apple's PowerSchool|date=2006-05-26|website=eSchool News|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> PowerSchool was a profitable product for Pearson; in 2014, it generated $97 million in revenue and $20 million in operating income.<ref name="PowerSchool to Vista"/> In 2015, Pearson sold PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350 million cash.<ref name="PowerSchool to Vista">{{Cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-06-18-pearson-to-sell-powerschool-to-vista-equity-partners-for-350m|title=Pearson to Sell PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350M – EdSurge News|date=2015-06-18|website=EdSurge|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>


The other sites in the InformIT Network include:
In 2007, the company developed the youth-oriented [[Online game|online]] quest game ''[[Poptropica]]'', through its Family Education Network. In 2015, Pearson's Family Education Network, along with Poptropica, were sold to the London-based investment group Sandbox Partners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-05-26-family-education-network-sold|title=Family Education Network Sold - EdSurge News|date=26 May 2015}}</ref>
* Peachpit.com: [[Peachpit]] is a publisher that has been publishing books on graphic design, desktop publishing, multimedia, Web design and development, digital video, and general computing since 1986. Peachpit is a publishing partner for Adobe Press, lynda.com, NAPP, Apple Certified, AIGA Design Press and others.
* FTPress.com: The book publishing imprint related to the [[Financial Times]] newspaper, [[FT Press]] creates books in the areas of general business, finance and investing, sales and marketing, leadership, management and strategy, human resources, and global business. FT Press is the publishing partner for [[Wharton School Publishing]].


===Safari Books Online joint venture===
In 2010, Pearson purchased [[Cogmed]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Press release: PsychCorp Announces Acquisition of Cogmed|url=https://www.pearsonassessments.com/news/2010/psychcorp-announces-acquisition-of-cogmed.html|work=Pearson|date=July 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine| title = Brain Games are Bogus| author = Gareth Cook| magazine = The New Yorker| date = 2013-04-05| url = http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/brain-games-are-bogus}}</ref> a [[brain fitness]] and [[working memory training]] program founded in 1999 by Swedish researcher Torkel Klingberg.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.cogmed.com/history |website=cogmed.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228115308/http://www.cogmed.com/history |archive-date=28 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Torkel Klingberg |url=http://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/Meettheexpert/TorkelKlingberg.aspx |website=pearsonclinical.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405060406/http://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/Meettheexpert/TorkelKlingberg.aspx |archive-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> In 2019, Cogmed was transferred back to the original founders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Torkel Klingberg |url=http://www.klingberglab.se/torkel-klingberg/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Klingberg lab}}</ref>


In 2001, the Pearson Technology Group and O'Reilly Media LLC formed a joint partnership called [[Safari Books Online]], to offer a web-based electronic library of technical and business books from InformIT's imprint partners and [[O'Reilly Media]]. The InformIT Network offers access to this service via its web sites. Pearson sold its interest in Safari Books Online to O'Reilly in 2014.
In 2016, Pearson acquired [[StatCrunch]], a statistical analysis tool created by Webster West in 1997. Pearson had already been the primary distributor of [[StatCrunch]] for several years.<ref>[http://www.pearsoned.com/news/pearson-acquires-major-statistical-software-firm-integrated-analytics/ "Pearson Acquires Major Statistical Software Firm, Integrated Analytics"] ''Pearson'' (28 July 2016)</ref>


== Realidades ==
==Partnerships==
Realidades is a standards-based high school curriculum that balances communications and grammar. With books for both middle school and high school students, Realidades features insight on the Spanish language, culture and technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.overdrive.com/media/1653115/realidades-1|title = Realidades 1}}</ref>
In 2007, Pearson partnered with four other higher-education publishers to create [[CourseSmart]], a company developed to sell college textbooks in eTextbook format on a common platform.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ingram Buys CourseSmart |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/61275-ingram-buys-coursesmart.html |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |access-date=20 September 2023 |date=3 March 2014}}</ref> In 2011, Pearson obtained a five-year, $32&nbsp;million contract with the [[New York State Department of Education]] to design tests for students in grades 3–8.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Otterman |first1=Sharon |title=In $32 Million Contract, State Lays Out Some Rules for Its Standardized Tests |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/nyregion/new-york-in-contract-with-pearson-lays-out-rules-for-state-tests.html |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=12 August 2011}}</ref>


== Digital textbooks ==
Que Publishing, a publishing imprint of Pearson based out of Seattle, partnered with [[AARP]] in 2014 to develop and add to a series of technology books for seniors.<ref name="New Tech Books Help People 50+ Get Savvy">{{cite web |url=http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/press-center/info-11-2014/iphone-for-seniors.html|title=New Tech Books Help People 50+ Get Savvy}}</ref> The series, which includes ''My iPad For Seniors,'' and ''My Social Media for Seniors,'' are large-print and colourful.<ref name="New Tech Books Help People 50+ Get Savvy"/>
In July 2019, Pearson announced it would begin the process of phasing out the publishing of printed textbooks, in a plan to move into a more [[digital first]] strategy.


The company reportedly envisions students relying more on e-textbooks which would be updated frequently, while printed books will be updated less often. Students wanting printed books will need to rent them.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48998789 |title=Education publisher Pearson to phase out print textbooks |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2019-07-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717065126/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48998789 |archive-date=2019-07-17 |access-date=2019-07-17 }}</ref>
==Criticism==
{{see also|Pearson plc#Criticism}}


==Current business model==
===Errors in tests===
As of 2019, the firm gets half of their annual revenues from digital sales. The United States accounts for 20 percent of Pearson's annual revenue coming from courseware.
In the spring of 2012, tests that Pearson designed for the [[NYSED]] were found to contain over 30 errors, which caused controversy. One of the most prominent featured a passage about a talking pineapple on the 8th Grade ELA test (revealed to be based on [[Daniel Pinkwater]]'s ''The Story of the Rabbit and the Eggplant'', with the eggplant changed into a pineapple). After public outcry, the NYSED announced it would not count the questions in scoring.<ref>{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Gail|title=A Very Pricey Pineapple|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/opinion/collins-a-very-pricey-pineapple.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 April 2012|access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> Other errors included a miscalculated question on the [[Eighth grade|8th Grade]] Mathematics test regarding [[astronomical unit]]s, a 4th grade math question with two possible correct answers, errors in the 6th grade ELA scoring guide, and over twenty errors on foreign-language math tests.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haimson|first=Leonie|title=Pineapplegate continues, with 20 more errors, and finally an apologia from Pearson|date=9 May 2012|url=http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2012/05/pineapplegate-continues-with-20-more.html|publisher=NYC Public School Parents|access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 167: Line 123:
== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
[https://www.pearson.com/ Official website]


{{Pearson}}
{{Pearson}}

Latest revision as of 21:23, 4 March 2026


Pearson Education
Founded1998; 28 years ago (1998)[1]
Headquarters
London
,
England
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsTextbooks, e-textbooks, tests, assessments
Number of employees
c. 20,000[2] (2023)
ParentPearson plc
Websitepearson.com

Pearson Education, (branded as Pearson since 2011) is the educational publishing and services subsidiary of the international corporation Pearson plc. Formed in 1998, when Pearson plc acquired Simon & Schuster's educational business and combined it with Pearson's existing education company Addison-Wesley Longman.[1] Pearson Education was rebranded as Pearson in 2011.[3] In 2016, the diversified parent corporation Pearson plc rebranded to focus entirely on education publishing and services; as of 2023, Pearson Education is Pearson plc's main subsidiary.[4][5]

In 2019, Pearson Education began phasing out the prominence of its hard-copy textbooks in favor of digital textbooks, which cost the company far less, and can be updated frequently and easily.[6]

As of 2023, Pearson Education has testing/teaching centers in over 55 countries worldwide; the UK and the U.S. have the most centers.[4] The headquarters of parent company Pearson plc are in London, England.[4] Pearson Education's U.S. headquarters were in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey until the headquarters were closed at the end of 2014.[7] Most of Pearson Education's printing is done by third-party suppliers.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

Early history[edit | edit source]

Following the British government's acquisition and nationalization of several of Pearson's aviation, fuel, and energy divisions in the early 1940s,[8][9] the diversified multinational conglomerate entered the education market.[10] It acquired the textbook publisher Longman in 1968.[10]

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Pearson plc divested further from a number of its industries and acquired more educational publishing companies, and its education publishing operations became steadily larger and more significant.[8][11] In 1988, Pearson plc purchased Addison-Wesley, the sixth-largest publisher of textbooks in the U.S.,[12] and merged it with Pearson's educational books subsidiary Longman to create Addison-Wesley Longman.[13][11] In 1996, it acquired HarperCollins Educational Publishing and merged it with Addison-Wesley Longman.[14]

Marjorie Scardino, who was CEO of Pearson plc from 1997 to 2013, increasingly focused the company on education, emphasizing acquisitions in the sector.[15][16] In 1998, Pearson plc purchased the education division of Simon & Schuster, which included Prentice Hall, Allyn & Bacon,[17][18] and parts of Macmillan Inc. including the Macmillan name.[19][20] Later in 1998, Pearson merged with Simon & Schuster's educational business with Addison Wesley Longman to form Pearson Education.[1]

Pearson Education sold and divested most of its Simon & Schuster divisions in 1999.[21] It sold Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, a Catholic publishing division it operated under the Scott Foresman imprint, to RCL Benziger in 2007.[22] In 2007, Pearson Education sold the Macmillan name to Holtzbrinck Publishing Group,[19][20] which had purchased Macmillan Publishing Ltd. in the late 1990s.[23]

In 2000, Pearson acquired Virtual University Enterprises, an electronic testing company founded in 1994, and renamed it Pearson VUE.[24] According to the company, as of 2023, it delivers numerous skills tests and certification tests electronically in over 180 countries.[25][26]

Pearson formation and rebranding[edit | edit source]

Pearson Education was rebranded as simply Pearson in 2011,[3] and split into Pearson North America and Pearson International.[27] A restructuring announced in 2013 combined Pearson North America and Pearson International into one Pearson company[28] organised around three global lines of business: School, Higher Education, and Professional.[29][30]

Following the sale of its financial news publications Financial Times and The Economist in 2015, Pearson plc rebranded in January 2016 to focus solely on education, and the corporation adopted a new logo.[5] The logo features the interrobang (‽), a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point, to convey a "combination of excitement, curiosity and individuality"[5] and "the excitement and fun of learning".[31]

In late 2025, Pearson VUE announced it would rebrand as simply Pearson, with its assessment segment identified as Pearson Professional Assessments.[32]

Digital transformation[edit | edit source]

In 2019, Pearson announced it would begin the process of phasing out the publishing of printed textbooks, in a plan to move into a more digital first strategy.[6] E-textbooks will be updated frequently, while printed books will be updated less often.[6] Students wanting printed books will need to rent them.[6] As of 2019, the firm received more than half of its annual revenues from digital sales,[6] and the US accounted for 20 percent of Pearson's annual revenue coming from courseware.[6]

In 2019, Pearson sold its US K-12 courseware business to the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management,[33] which rebranded it as Savvas Learning Company.[34][35] In 2019, Pearson also sold its remaining 25% stake in Penguin Random House to Bertelsmann.[36]

In 2022, Pearson Education announced that they intended to sell their digital textbooks as NFTs, in order to profit from secondhand sales.[37]

In 2022, Pearson acquired ClutchPrep, a Miami-based edtech startup that offers sample questions, test prep and college exam prep video guides. The service has been renamed Channels.[38][39]

Imprints[edit | edit source]

Pearson has a number of publishing imprints, including:

InformIT[edit | edit source]

InformIT, a subsidiary of Pearson Education, is an online book vendor and an electronic publisher of technology and education content. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.[45]

It publishes books, e-books, and videos, and its imprints include Addison-Wesley Professional, Cisco Press, Pearson IT Certification, Que Publishing, and Sams Publishing.[41]

InformIT.com is one of the websites of the Pearson Technology Group,[46] and one of several sites in the InformIT Network.[47] The site features free articles, blogs, and podcasts on IT topics and products, as well as a bookstore carrying all titles from its imprints.[47]

Other sites in the InformIT Network include Peachpit.com.[46] Peachpit is a publisher that has been producing books on graphic design, desktop publishing, multimedia, web design and development, digital video, and general computing since 1986.[47] Peachpit is a publishing partner for Adobe, Apple, Macromedia, and others.[47]

In 2001, the Pearson Technology Group and O'Reilly Media LLC formed a joint partnership called Safari Books Online, to offer a web-based electronic library of technical and business books from InformIT's imprint partners and O'Reilly Media.[48] The InformIT Network offers access to this service via its web sites.[49] Pearson sold its interest in Safari Books Online to O'Reilly in 2014.[50]

Technology products[edit | edit source]

Pearson's products include MyMathLab and Mastering Platform.[51]

In 2006, Pearson School Systems, a division of Pearson Education, acquired PowerSchool, a student information system, and parent portal, from Apple; terms of the deal were not disclosed.[52] PowerSchool was a profitable product for Pearson; in 2014, it generated $97 million in revenue and $20 million in operating income.[53] In 2015, Pearson sold PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350 million cash.[53]

In 2007, the company developed the youth-oriented online quest game Poptropica, through its Family Education Network. In 2015, Pearson's Family Education Network, along with Poptropica, were sold to the London-based investment group Sandbox Partners.[54]

In 2010, Pearson purchased Cogmed,[55][56] a brain fitness and working memory training program founded in 1999 by Swedish researcher Torkel Klingberg.[57][58] In 2019, Cogmed was transferred back to the original founders.[59]

In 2016, Pearson acquired StatCrunch, a statistical analysis tool created by Webster West in 1997. Pearson had already been the primary distributor of StatCrunch for several years.[60]

Partnerships[edit | edit source]

In 2007, Pearson partnered with four other higher-education publishers to create CourseSmart, a company developed to sell college textbooks in eTextbook format on a common platform.[61] In 2011, Pearson obtained a five-year, $32 million contract with the New York State Department of Education to design tests for students in grades 3–8.[62]

Que Publishing, a publishing imprint of Pearson based out of Seattle, partnered with AARP in 2014 to develop and add to a series of technology books for seniors.[63] The series, which includes My iPad For Seniors, and My Social Media for Seniors, are large-print and colourful.[63]

Criticism[edit | edit source]

See also: Pearson plc § Criticism

Errors in tests[edit | edit source]

In the spring of 2012, tests that Pearson designed for the NYSED were found to contain over 30 errors, which caused controversy. One of the most prominent featured a passage about a talking pineapple on the 8th Grade ELA test (revealed to be based on Daniel Pinkwater's The Story of the Rabbit and the Eggplant, with the eggplant changed into a pineapple). After public outcry, the NYSED announced it would not count the questions in scoring.[64] Other errors included a miscalculated question on the 8th Grade Mathematics test regarding astronomical units, a 4th grade math question with two possible correct answers, errors in the 6th grade ELA scoring guide, and over twenty errors on foreign-language math tests.[65]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Pearson Education: World's Leading Education Business Is Launched". Pearson.com. 30 November 1998. Archived from the original on 24 February 1999.
  2. ↑ "Who we are". pearson.com. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "About Pearson". pearsoned.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Pearson plc (31 March 2023). "Form 20-F: Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022" (PDF). plc.pearson.com. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Cowdrey, Katherine (7 January 2016). "Pearson rebrand to reflect 100% focus on education". The Bookseller. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Education publisher Pearson to phase out print textbooks". BBC News. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Moss, Linda (17 May 2013). "Pearson trims Upper Saddle River employees". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Long, Steven; Jacques, Derek; Kepos, Paula, eds. (2019). "Pearson plc". International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 207. St. James Press / Gale Cengage. OCLC 1066283259.
  9. ↑ "S. Pearson and Son". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Christensen, Jens (2009). Global Experience Industries. Aarhus University Press. ISBN 978-87-7124-581-3.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Pearson". Northern Illinois University Libraries. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Pearson to acquire Addison-Wesley for $283 million". UPI. 15 February 1988. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Addison-Wesley to Be Bought for $283 Million". Los Angeles Times. Reuters. 16 February 1988. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Gilpin, Kenneth N. (10 February 1996). "Pearson to Buy a Publisher From News Corp". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  15. ↑ Baird, Dugald; Sabbagh, Dan (3 October 2012). "Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino to step down". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Chozick, Amy (3 October 2012). "Scardino, Chief of Pearson, to Step Down". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Walsh, Mark (21 February 2001). "Pearson Hopes To 'Widen the Definition Of Education'". Education Week. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  18. ↑ Selingo, Jeffrey J. (19 May 1998). "British Publisher Announces Plan to Buy Simon & Schuster's Textbook Division". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Macmillan Rises from the Dustbin". Publishers Weekly. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Milliot, Jim (9 October 2007). "Holtzbrinck's U.S. Arm Now Macmillan". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ "RCL Publishing LLC ("RCL Benziger"), a CFM Religion Publishing Group LLC division, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, a Scott Foresman imprint, from Pearson Education". Wicks Group. 6 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  23. ↑ "Holtzbrinck". Northern Illinois University - University Libraries. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Who is Pearson VUE and What You Should Know Before Showing Up". EMTprep. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  25. ↑ Hameed, Shaj (24 May 2023). "Pearson VUE's innovative solutions revolutionise testing and certification in the Middle East". Arabian Business. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  26. ↑ Spring, Joel (2015). American Education. Routledge.
  27. ↑ McCleery, Alistair; Bold, Melanie Ramdarshan (2012). "'What is my country?': Supporting Small Nation Publishing" (PDF). Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies. 6 (1). Aberdeen University Press: 119. doi:10.57132/jiss.74.
  28. ↑ Booth, Jenny (23 July 2015). "Pearson sells the Financial Times to Japanese newspaper Nikkei for £844m". The Times. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  29. ↑ "About us: Our qualifications history". qualifications.pearson.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  30. ↑ "Global Publishing Leaders 2014: Pearson". Publishers Weekly. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  31. ↑ "Logo: The Interrobang" (PDF). pearson.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  32. ↑ "Pearson VUE to rebrand as Pearson Professional Assessments". www.pearsonvue.com. 18 November 2025. Archived from the original on 13 December 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  33. ↑ Wan, Tony (18 February 2019). "Finally: Pearson Sells Its US K-12 Courseware Business—for $250 Million*". EdSurge. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  34. ↑ "Pearson K12 Spinoff Rebranded as 'Savvas Learning Company'". Market Brief. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  35. ↑ Molnar, Michele (6 May 2020). "Pearson K12 Spinoff Rebranded as 'Savvas Learning Company'". EdWeek. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  36. ↑ Calatayud, Adria (18 December 2019). "Pearson CEO to Retire and company will sell remaining Penguin Random House stake". MarketWatch. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  37. ↑ "Pearson plans to sell its textbooks as NFTs". TheGuardian.com.
  38. ↑ "Clutch Prep acquired by Pearson".
  39. ↑ "Pearson+ Releases Curated Video & Practice Feature to Enhance Learning Experiences for All College Students".
  40. ↑ "Rights & licensing: BBC Active". Pearson.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 41.6 41.7 41.8 "Who is InformIT". InformIT.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  42. ↑ "Financial Statements" (PDF). plc.pearson.com. Pearson plc. March 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  43. ↑ "Rigby". Pearson.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  44. ↑ McKinder, Helen (16 June 2020). "Meet Helen – answering all your York Notes customer service needs!". York Notes. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  45. ↑ "InformIT Promotions". informit.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023. 2023 Pearson Education, InformIT. All rights reserved. 800 East 96th Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Redesigning a Big Umbrella of Websites: The Informit CSS Overhaul". peachpit.com. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 "About the InformIT Network". informit.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  48. ↑ "O'Reilly and Pearson Launch Joint Venture". oreilly.com. 1 October 2001. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  49. ↑ "About". informit.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  50. ↑ O’Reilly, Tim (4 August 2014). "O'Reilly purchases Pearson's stake in Safari". radar.oreilly.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  51. ↑ Kahn, Gabriel (4 September 2014). "College in a Box". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  52. ↑ "Pearson buys Apple's PowerSchool". eSchool News. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 "Pearson to Sell PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350M – EdSurge News". EdSurge. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  54. ↑ "Family Education Network Sold - EdSurge News". 26 May 2015.
  55. ↑ "Press release: PsychCorp Announces Acquisition of Cogmed". Pearson. 14 July 2010.
  56. ↑ Gareth Cook (5 April 2013). "Brain Games are Bogus". The New Yorker.
  57. ↑ "History". cogmed.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010.
  58. ↑ "Torkel Klingberg". pearsonclinical.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.
  59. ↑ admin. "Torkel Klingberg". Klingberg lab. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  60. ↑ "Pearson Acquires Major Statistical Software Firm, Integrated Analytics" Pearson (28 July 2016)
  61. ↑ "Ingram Buys CourseSmart". Publishers Weekly. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  62. ↑ Otterman, Sharon (12 August 2011). "In $32 Million Contract, State Lays Out Some Rules for Its Standardized Tests". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 "New Tech Books Help People 50+ Get Savvy".
  64. ↑ Collins, Gail (28 April 2012). "A Very Pricey Pineapple". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  65. ↑ Haimson, Leonie (9 May 2012). "Pineapplegate continues, with 20 more errors, and finally an apologia from Pearson". NYC Public School Parents. Retrieved 22 August 2012.

External links[edit | edit source]

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