The Cost of Education Reform

In addition to over-testing our children, overwhelming our teachers, undermining support for our schools and dividing our communities, the time, energy and money being spent trying to comply with the demands of the education reform movement are significantly increasing our nation’s financial burden.  In February of 2012, the Pioneer Institute’s Center for School Reform released an eye-opening national report revealing that implementing the Common Core Standards will generate at least $15.8 billion of new costs for states and local communities over the next seven years.  This increase in costs includes $1.2 billion for high-stakes testing, $5.3 billion for professional development, $2.5 billion for textbooks and instructional material and $6.9 billion for technology and infrastructure support.