The costs of technology and the amount of classroom time required to administer the new student assessment that accompanies the Common Core, (called PARCC) has been topics of concern for Maryland education stakeholders. See our previous posts, Boards of Education Comment on Draft College & Career Readiness Standards Implementation Recommendations and Commission Will Study Whether Maryland Students Are Over-tested

But following the first year of the test’s implementation, the state is finding cost savings, as reported by the Baltimore Sun,

State education officials say new standardized tests last year saved the state more than $2.5 million, compared to previous state assessments.

The state Board of Education received an overview Tuesday of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers testing, which was first used in Maryland during the 2014-2015 school year.

Statewide, 1.3 million tests were completed during the school year. More than 80 percent of students took the assessments online.

For more information, see the full story from the Baltimore Sun.