Standardized tests are important - every child in America takes them.   But what about scoring essays?   

Though the efficacy of standardized testing has been hotly debated for decades, one thing has become crystal clear: It's big business.   The companies that create and score tests saw profits skyrocket. In 2009, K-12 testing was estimated to be a $2.7 billion industry.

Jessica Lussenhop at CityPages uncovers some of the seedier side of essay scoring in standardized tests; under-qualified people filling a quota, making them rushed for time, and more.