LearningRX Complaints: Falsified Test Results.
(UnhappyFranchisee.com) According to the LearningRx franchise website: “LearningRx is one of the top educational and child franchises in the nation. We change lives every day through the incredible power of brain training! Our programs are designed to target weak cognitive skills and help anyone from age 4 to 94 to achieve guaranteed results.”
LearningRx franchise centers promise guaranteed results for children and adults with ADD, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, reading problems, learning disabilities and other challenges.
LearningRX programs are pricey, often costing $5000 – $15,000. However, part of the LearningRX sales pitch is that they guarantee results – or your money back. However, some former LearningRX employees have claimed that their LearningRX franchise either put undue pressure (and financial incentives) on testers to do whatever it takes produce positive test results – and thereby avoid a refund.
Others claimed they were blatantly instructed to falsify test scores to exaggerate the effect of their program.
Are you familiar with the LearningRX franchise? Please share a comment below.
Some allege that some LearningRX franchise locations intentionally falsify test results to show bogus improvement – and avoid paying refunds.
thetruthbetold wrote:
I worked for learningRx in a management position and as a trainer… i witnessed test scores being changed to persuade parents to sign up or continue after completion… It is grossly overcharged without a flat rate so each family pays what the owners can get out of them! …its not the program itself that’s a problem it is the fact that now franchisees can open up shop, claim to be pseudo-medical and exploit children with disabilities by taking advantage of their desperate families…
ErinM wrote:
I worked for them for many years, and they are EXTREMELY corrupt. The trainers are all great people who do exactly as they are told, and help motivate the students. However, they will scam you out of your money and falsify test results. I felt guilty being a part of it after a while.
Lauren P. wrote:
I worked with a LearningRx franchise for 2 years before taking on the role as a test examiner. Shortly after taking on the role, the director pulled me aside and complained about the lack of growth in the final testings I had administered. He said it was very important to remember that our success as a center relies on results found in the final tests and that basically my paycheck relied on seeing growth in the final tests. I’m not stupid and I know what he was asking me to do… I refused to alter final testing scores and was fired from the role. The excuse was that I was not administering the test correctly. I was heartbroken. All of the results I thought my own students were achieving were false. The director was willing to trick parents and manipulate a credible test like the WJIII to make money. It seems most, if not all of these franchises carry this attitude about testing and it’s all about the buck with the directors. I would advise buyer beware.
first-hand-experience wrote:
I also was in management with LearningRx. Let me start by saying, I worked at two different locations (each with different owners). I started as a receptionist and tester and worked my way up to Assistant Director. The first center I worked at was everything negative you’ve heard so far. Everything from falsifying test scores to trying to make her employees claim they were independent contractors…
Others allege that the type and frequency of testing used by LearningRX skews results to indicate progress that doesn’t exist.
One commenter states that progress demonstrated is a result of LearningRX “teaching for the test.”
Alan Balter writes:
…The training is specific to the woodcock johnson III, so if I pretest you and you score badly, then train you specifically to the test, then you show growth ( i would hope), did you really grow? It would be like giving you all the answers to the SAT or intelligene quota and then saying you’re brilliant or belong in MENSA when you do well. bottom line they’re not accurately measuring the programs true effectiveness by not accounting for threats to internal and external validity.
Allison Edge agrees:
As a trainer and tester at Learningrx, I’d like to say that you should be careful when going there. Standardized assessments like the initial and supplemental tests are not meant to be given more than once a year. LearningRx gives them every 4-6 months. This allows the student to get a higher than average score on the test…
sydneysjrstate wrote:
Keep in mind the tests they use to measure grade improvement don’t necessarily correspond to what children are doing in school, and if your child shows two grade level improvements on THEIR TESTS, they get to keep YOUR MONEY!
Lisa wrote:
If you are not familiar with the system, the entrance test and exit test is identical. LearningRX bases success on whether or not the person being trained moves beyond what they are initially able to complete on the test. For instance, if he/she is able to do 3 out of 8 steps on the test when he/she first takes the test, but completes 5 out of 8 when they complete all training, LearningRX has succeeded in helping the person. So, on paper and according to their guarantee, their program has worked. However, there was absolutely NO improvement in any of the areas that had been discussed during the initial visit! In fact, some grades were even worse while taking the training – this was explained away as “normal” at the half-way review point.
Barbara Crewell wrote:
My daughter went through this program at the beginning of this year… now that she is in 8th grade everything has just gone downhill. She has worse grades than ever and has dozens of missing assignments. So I feel like I threw away 7,000 dollars on the product that has no true guarantee. Your guarantee is if she doesn’t improve they will give you an extra month free. That doesn’t sound like a guarantee at all. Maybe if it doesn’t work they refund your damn money, how bout that?
What do you think?
Do LearningRX franchise owners falsify test results?
Is the LearningRX system skewed to indicate imaginary progress?
Are LearningRX trainers and testers under pressure to return positive results, even if it requires questionable tactics?
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH LEARNING RX AND THE LEARNING RX FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY? PLEASE SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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## Supplemental Testing and the LearningRx Guarantee
The LearningRx slogan is "Train the brain. Get better. Guaranteed." What does it mean that it is guaranteed? The LearningRx guarantee is this:
* If the client completes a 12 week program, it is guaranteed that one skill will
increase 2 years.
* If the client completes a 24 week program, it is guaranteed that one skill will
increase 3 years.
At initial assessment, the child was assessed for seven (or so) core cognitive skills, plus Word Attack. (Word Attack is not a cognitive skill).
In the supplemental testing, this number of tests may double and the additional tests are not cognitive tests.
Since the guarantee is relative to all assessment results (both initial and supplemental, both cognitive and achievement), the supplemental testing gives the franchisee more of a chance to meet the guarantee.
Please stop and think about this.
* During the consultation, you sold Sarah's parents on the idea that their child is
struggling because she lacks one or more underlying cognitive ability, probably
Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Long-Term Memory.
* During the consultation, you told Sarah's parents that her trainer would focus on
Sarah's specific needs to bring an end to her struggles.
* You told Sarah's parents through your advertising and your own words that the
program is guaranteed.
* Then you added supplemental non-cognitive tests into the mix and said that a
gain in any test counts toward meeting the program guarantee.
The common term for this kind of sales tactic is "bait and switch". But all LearningRx franchisees can think of it as business as usual beacuse this is the way it has always been done.
Sarah's parents should not consider it a success if some unrelated skill went up (even a huge amount) if Sarah still has weaknesses in the underlying skills that supposedly caused her poor attention and memory skills.
## INHERENT CONFLICT #9
As a parent, you were convinced you that weak cognitive skills were causing your child's poor performance in school and in life. You were told that a certified trainer would focus on these specific weak skills and help your child improve dramatically. You were told that the results were guaranteed.
As a franchisee, you pulled a bait and switch. You sold the parent that specific weak cognitive skills are the root cause of the child's struggles. You told the parent you would focus on and improve those weak underlying skills. But your guarantee is that 'some' possibly unrelated test score, possible not even a cognitive skill, will improve. Bait and switch by any other name is still a dishonest business practice!
## INTERJECTION: Why do parents sign the contract with this weak guarantee?
It is important to understand that parents sign a contract that says that the guarantee is met if any test score increases, whether cognitive skill or not and whether one of the weak underlying skills or not. Why do parents sign this contract when the verbiage is in direct conflict with what they have been told during the consultation?
* They do not read or understand the contract.
* They have been told so many times that the trainer will focus on the weak
underlying skills so they trust that no matter what the contract says,
this will be true. They trust the franchisee.
* They have already emotionally committed to the program,
so they do not bring up objections.
In fact, one of the Former Franchisees cannot ever remember a single contract signing where a parent raised an objection about the wording of the guarantee.
## INTERJECTION: The MechanicRx Analogy
I liken the LearningRx guarantee to going to your auto mechanic (aptly named
MechanicRx) to get a fix to an underlying engine problem. MechanicRx' slogan is Fix your Car. Runs better. Guaranteed.
When you call to tell the mechanic that the engine is not running any better than it was before, he points to the contract and said the guarantee was that something about your car would improve dramatically.
Then he asks, "Didn't you notice the spotless windshield?"
Then it hits you: "Yes, but $1400 for a clean windshield???"
Yet this is the norm within the LearningRx system. The guarantee is a deception.
I was in a LearningRx center in an administrative position. I had experience with other tutoring companies as well as full-time teaching experience. I can believe everything stated in the article. While the concept of neuroplasticity seemed plausible, I did not understand the astronomical cost for brain games any person could easily play at home. There was so much internal deception that the employees were in an unspoken war with the directors. I was not pleased while employed with LearningRx.
Can't begin to thank you, Former.
I took my 10 year old daughter to our Charlottesville,VA center for 3 free sessions with a trainer in training. I was given the pre assessment questionnaire and the owner/director told me he'd give me 1/2 off the regular assessment price since my daughter was volunteering.
Actually, I don't think she even has any issues. I took her there because I thought she might enjoy it. Sure, her mind wanders and she is sometimes scattered but she's 10!
I had no idea of the cost!! My word!! He could have me bring in my husband, parents , grandparents and my entire extended family! No way would we pay that.
I really did want this for my girl though (before reading this). I wanted her to have every opportunity to be a better student and thinker. He made it sound like she'd experience such gains!! I wanted that for her.
Right before I googled reviews of LRX, I was praying for a way to get this training for her. I knew it was probably expensive and right now the money tree isn't bearing fruit. So I was praying for a way.
Then I find this. I've read the entire thread. And my prayers have been answered.
I will use Lumosity. I will read the books you mentioned and use the exercises you stated. I'll make up my own. We'll do it together as a family. Brain training on a shoestring!
Thank you for your kindness and willingness to share this information. You have helped more than you know. Blessing to you.
Forgot to mention. I should have been tipped off by the very prominent framed diploma on the wall of the director's office.
I thought for sure it would have been a degree in neuroscience or psychology.
It was an MBA.
Thanks for the latest comments. I read them many months ago.
Yes, I do check in on this every month or so to see if there are any questions or new comments. If you are new to this thread, go back to the beginning and read. There is a lot of deception and manipulation in the LearningRx system (Learning Rx Learning RX).
I still ask that someone call a LearningRx center and see if what I say above is true and report back to this post. Confirm these main points:
1. The person answering the phone will not answer basic questions such as how much the program costs. If they give a range the range will include a low price which will not be really real such as $1500. The $1500 dollars will be for a product on the computer which is competing with Lumosity. Do they say this? Do they tell you that they are going to try to make sure the average sale is $5000 or more? (Ask them!)
2. The person answering the phone will present themselves and the director as an expert in the brain and brain science. This is absolutely untrue in almost all cases. Franchisees are business people, not brain scientists or even cognitive psychologists. There is no professional training to back this up at all. Ask for the credentials of the center you call and report back here. (The person just above this said the person had an MBA -- that is a business degree, not a brain science degree.)
3. Ask the person answering the phone if conversions are tracked from phone calls to assessment, from assessment to consultation and from consultation to customer. I am really interested in what they will say. But I know from experience that these are all tracked. The centers want a conversion of 90% or above from phone call to assessment, 100% from assessment to consulation, and 50% or above from consultation to customer. The center director where I was a franchisee bragged about an above 50% conversion rate into customers. Another center director from another center would brag about a 90% conversion rate -- which I later was told by the home office was not true.
4. I had a friend (another former franchisee) show me a picture from this year of franchisees. The franchisees were all new faces. Incredible turn over in franchisees since I was in the system. We were both amazed! If you are considering being a franchisee, plan to lose a lot of money -- even if you make some along the way.
5. If you go to a consultation, I want on-going confirmation that what I said above still holds true. You have told the director all about you, your desires, and your child. Do they give you any really new information? Do they admit to the limitations of the initial assessment? Do they tell you in the initial assessment that they often dismiss some of the testing results in the final assessment? Do they admit to some students getting very poor results? Do they tell you that assessments should not really be done more often than once per year (for Woodcock Johnson)? Do they try to make you emotional and then play on your emotion to get a sale? Do they make it clear that the guarantee is almost always meaningless?
I am always interested. I am always checking in if anyone has questions or comments. Please keep the discussion going. I would especially like to hear from potential franchisees.
Attended an ADHD conference this weekend and LearningRx had a vendor booth. I can confirm they continue to make unverified/exaggerated claims about improving cognitive skills and executive function (working memory, etc.).
To be clear -- working memory is not something that can be rehab-ed in someone with ADHD, especially through games/training such as repetition exercises. There was no hard sell at the time (which isn't surprising given the sales funnel model) but I did provide my contact info and I'm sure that's when I'll really see the wheels in motion.
I'm glad I did my research to see what's behind the curtain with the company but I'm also incredibly disappointed in the conference organizers that basically fed their ADHD attendees to the lions in the interest of making money, which apparently is a clear common denominator for both parties.
Thanks, Regina. I am interested to see what you find out if you go through the sales model.
By the by, as a former franchisee, the clients I perceived left with the least change were those with hyperactive tendencies. I never saw the link between brain training and correcting hyperactivity.
An example was a boy I personally trained who came in with very low memory skills and was extremely hyperactive. I love that boy. I never felt like his memory or hyperactivity got better even though I worked with him for over a year. His final testing showed an unimproved memory. Worse, the center director pushed for retesting with the exact same test within a week to clear the bad results.
Years later, his dad and I talked and said the only lasting change was that I taught him to read better. Ironically, I attribute some of his improvement in reading to the LearningRx ReadRx training program. The ReadRx program had 24 units. 23 of them focused on sound to code (/a/ is written as 'a'). One of the units (18, if I recall) focuses on code-to-sound (when you see an 'a' in a word it could represent the /a/ sound). That one code-to-sound unit is supposed to be completed in roughly a week! The reason I helped this boy was because I deviated from the program and did much more code-to-sound work with him -- though quite ad hoc. That year of training was worth $20,000 in my center, though we gave the parents a steep discount, because I was learning by working with them.
Everything I did to help could have been had from a trained reading instructor (not a reading teacher) at about $25/hour -- a quarter the price. Ironically, even by the end of my time at LearningRx I was not even a competent reading instructor. And, worse, my brain trainers were at an even lower level -- maybe advanced beginners if they stayed a year. I only had an hour per week to teach them what I was learning in my side reading. NONE of the teaching of my trainers was required by the home office. I learned and I taught because I thought we needed to earn the right to be called a reading program.
The LearningRx home office is extremely and pervasively arrogant. A franchisee could be fined or removed for deviating. But since the focus is all on testing and the testing does not effectively measure reading (only Word Attack and Auditory Processing), they get away with this in the eyes of the consumer. Ultimately, I removed myself as a franchisee -- at a financial loss -- because I could not stand behind the product or the system. I felt like I was in the midst of lies -- pervasive lies -- and deceit -- pervasive deceit -- to the point that I had to step aside to clear my mind and recenter on truth. Clarity really only came by writing these posts. Thinking through it all after the fact. Continuing to learn. And confessing my own sins committed in my time with the company as I became aware of them.
[An aside: I learned recently that Kim Hanson is now the CEO of the company. Kim is the daughter Ken Gibson, the founder. Of all the home office staff, I liked Dean and Kim most. However, the difference between confidence and arrogance is whether you defend that which is clearly wrong (she does) and make claims that cannot be supported by evidence (she does). God bless her, but she also needs to repent before she appears at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is just that Tanya Mitchell needs to repent more.]