UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 6-K

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                    PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                           For the month of January 2008

                                  PEARSON plc
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                      N/A

                (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                                   80 Strand
                            London, England WC2R 0RL
                                44-20-7010-2000
                    (Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant  files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:




      Form 20-F X                                      Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark whether the  Registrant  by  furnishing  the  information
contained  in this  Form is  also  thereby  furnishing  the  information  to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934




       Yes                                              No X

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        This Report includes the following documents:

1. A press release from Pearson plc announcing Acquisition



24 January 2008

PEARSON'S ACQUISITION OF HARCOURT ASSESSMENT CLEARED BY U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Pearson, the international education and information company, today announces
that its purchase of the Harcourt Assessment business from Reed Elsevier has
received clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice.   The transaction is
expected to be completed on 28 January 2008.

As a condition for approval, Pearson will divest up to three diagnostic
assessment tests and one further test in development.

Pearson announced on 4 May 2007 that it had agreed to acquire Harcourt
Assessment and Harcourt Education International from Reed Elsevier for $950
million in cash. The transaction extends Pearson's position as the world's
leading education company by adding new capabilities, complementary products and
international reach. The acquisition of Harcourt's international education
business was completed in 2007.

ENDS

For more information:

Luke Swanson/ Simon Mays-Smith/ Charles Goldsmith           +44 (0)20 7010 2310
                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                   PEARSON plc

Date: 25 January 2008

                             By:   /s/ STEPHEN JONES
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                                   Stephen Jones
                                   Deputy Secretary