Cost Estimates for Implementing the Common Core State Standards in Washington State
The true cost of the adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards in Washington State is an unknown. The legislature authorized the superintendent of public instruction to provisionally adopt the standard prior to any cost analysis. It does not appear that the legislature has done any cost analysis on their own but is relying on information provided to them by the superintendent and his office. To the state’s credit, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) did estimate costs for implementation. While the estimates may be questionable, at least they made some estimates. Most states did not consider costs at the time of adoption or even later.
Are the estimated costs questionable? The state spent more than $30 million for professional development when new math standards were adopted in 2008. In Jan. 2011, OSPI’s five year estimated cost for implementation of the CCSS was $182.6 million. If you factor in textbooks and materials, this cost would bring this estimate to around $300 million. This estimate did not include textbooks, technology, or assessments. Later, in Dec. 2011, OSPI produced another five year estimate of nearly $23 million. A lot of assumptions were made in this estimate.
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WA Five Year Estimated Costs for CCSS Implementation January 2011 |
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|
Five Year Total |
Percent |
|
| State Level Costs |
$17,100,000 |
9.4% |
| District Level Costs |
$165,500,000 |
90.6% |
| State Level and District Level Costs |
$182,600,000 |
Totals |
| State Level and District Level Costs |
$182,600,000 |
|
| Add Textbooks and Curriculum Materials |
$300,000,000 |
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See Where’s the Money? at The Underground Parent.
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WA Five Year Estimated Costs for CCSS Implementation December 2011 |
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| Years |
State |
Regional |
Local |
Totals |
| 2010-11 |
$75,000 |
|
|
$75,000 |
| 2011-13 |
|
$1,600,000 |
$6,500,000 |
$8,100,000 |
| 2013-16 |
$422,000 |
$3,000,000 |
$11,400,000 |
$14,822,000 |
| Totals |
$497,000 |
$4,600,000 |
$17,900,000 |
$22,997,000 |
|
2.2% |
20% |
77.8% |
|
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Common Core State Standards: Implementation Activities, Timelines, Costs, and Input on Enhancements Dec. 2011 OSPI Report to the Legislature
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