Student Performance Assessment Series: The Cost of New Higher Quality Assessments

This report addresses the costs to states of high-quality assessment (HQA) systems in comparison to the amount currently being spent on their state assessment, and analyze various cost-reduction strategies. The data from the study can be used to inform states, policymakers, and other key decision makers on how much new HQA systems could cost under various conditions and what the impact of some cost-mitigation strategies might be.

The purpose of this study is to: 1) determine the amount of money a typical state would incur to implement a high-quality assessment (HQA) system including performance components in comparison to the amount currently being spent on their state assessment, and 2) determine if various cost-reduction strategies could be implemented to yield an HQA at a price similar to what a state pays today for its high stakes assessment. The data from the study can be used to inform states, policymakers, and other key decision makers how much new HQA systems could cost under various conditions and what the impact of some cost-mitigation strategies might be.