Rolling out new national "common core standards" for reading and math in public schools could cost Hawaii as much as $55 million, a new state-by-state analysis says.
The report, by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, estimates the price tag for implementing the tougher standards in all jurisdictions that have adopted them may hit as high as $12.1 billion.
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have pledged to move to the common core standards, which are aimed at better preparing students for rigorous college courses or competitive careers.
In its report, the institute analyzed the costs of implementing the new standards in three ways: with a traditional approach, which would involve buying new hard-copy textbooks, administering annual tests on paper and conducting in-person training to all teachers; with a "bare bones" approach, using open-source material and online training; and using "balanced implementation," which would be a mix of the two models.
‘PUTTING A PRICE TAG ON THE COMMON CORE’
To read the report analyzing the costs of implementing the new common core national standards, go to www.edexcellence.net. |
If Hawaii uses the traditional approach, rolling out the new standards over the next two years could cost about $54.7 million, according to the analysis.
A balanced model could cost less than half that, while a "bare bones" approach could cost about $16 million, the report said.
Hawaii would have spent about $16.5 million on instructional materials during the period anyway. Diverting those dollars for common core textbooks, training and other expenditures would bring the state’s implementation cost down considerably — to $38.2 million for the traditional approach and to nothing for the bare bones approach, according to the analysis.
Alex Da Silva, a spokesman for the Department of Education, said the report provides a "useful framework for the department as it gathers implementation costs for the common core state standards and testing."
He pointed out that Hawaii was an early adopter of the common core standards and serves as a governing member of a consortium developing annual assessments based on the new learning benchmarks.
"This collaboration with state partners will increase our return on investments and reduce our costs," he said in an email statement.
The department did not immediately have a tally of how much it has already spent on common core materials and training, and officials couldn’t immediately indicate which implementation approach they’re leaning toward.
The new standards have already been rolled out for students in kindergarten through second grade. Algebra 2 classes and language-arts teachers for 11th- and 12th-graders also moved to the common core in the school year that just ended, though teachers still need additional training and most schools have not yet purchased common core textbooks.
All Hawaii grades will be following the new standards by 2014.
