New Mexico's largest school district plans to spend millions of dollars to adopt new testing standards and move to computer-based testing.
Albuquerque Public Schools administrators say the district estimates it will spend $39 million in capital money to upgrade 17,000 computers and computer equipment, and another $15 million annually to maintain the system.
The Albuquerque Journal (bit.ly/UryGpU) reports that the costs come in implementing requirements of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The district says about one-third of its computers don't meet requirements.
The partnership that includes 23 states is helping to create a Common Core standards test that is being adopted by nearly every state.
Students will test on the new computers starting in the 2014-15 school year. Those tests will replace the current Standards-Based Assessment.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.