MCAS cost: first in a series

The recent comment by Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester that the suspension of the history portion of the MCAS would save the state $2.5 million dollars has a lot of people asking, "Just how much does the MCAS cost, anyway?"

It's a complicated question, as it isn't just the test itself that costs money; there's the sample tests, the student assistance, the new curriculums, the substitutes needed on testing days...but we're going to give it a shot.


Farther on in the same Lowell Sun article is a telling piece about Governor Patrick:

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(Patrick) has proposed reducing the line item in next year's budget that funds MCAS testing along with support programs for students who struggle to pass those exams from $42 million to $36.6 million.

That's just the state declared portion of what the MCAS costs. More to come...