Activists to Protest $83 Million Tax Break for Pearson Education

Was the $83 million tax break that the NJ Economic Development Authority granted to Pearson Education – one of the largest educational testing corporations in the world and the developer of the controversial PARCC standardized test – a good deal for New Jersey residents?

That’s the question that a coalition of activists and parents plan to address during a public demonstration at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, across from the Waterfront Corporate Center, 221 River St., the site of Pearson’s new Hoboken office.

According to a news release, parents and protesters representing a coalition of education, labor and community advocates will protest the $83 million tax break the corporate giant received from the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJ EDA) for moving 628 employees from Bergen County to Hudson County.

“Pearson stands to reap corporate tax breaks for shuffling jobs from Upper Saddle River to Hoboken at cost to school funding, property tax relief and other essential investments,” the release stated.

According to the release, Pearson is one of dozens of profitable multinational corporations that have benefitted from New Jersey’s corporate subsidy program. The release stated that recent estimates from New Jersey Policy Perspective show that the NJ EDA has awarded over $5 billion in tax breaks to some of the most profitable corporations in the world.

“Ostensibly intended to create jobs, the subsidies are often awarded to corporations for interstate moves that net few, if any, new jobs,” the release stated. “Pearson itself is already the beneficiary of lucrative state contracts with New Jersey, and has become a focal point of controversy for its role in developing the PARCC standardized test that is meeting widespread resistance as it is implemented this week.”

At the event, advocates, experts and community leaders will outline ways in which the revenue lost to corporate tax cuts could be used to restore school aid to underfunded schools, deliver property tax relief or invest in clean energy and green jobs programs.

The protest is organized by Better Choices for New Jersey, a statewide campaign to promote public investments that benefit New Jersey’s middle and working class, and is convened by NJ Working Families.

Send news tips and releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com