SIIA Releases First Behind the Data Report on the U.S. PreK-12 Testing and Assessment Market

Report Shows Sales in Testing and Assessment Category at $2.5 Billion

Washington, D.C.The Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, today released the first report in a new series of Behind the Data publications. This report is an extension of SIIA’s annual vendor survey reports on the PreK-12 U.S. Education Technology Market, which contain vital data for companies and the education community at large.

Testing and assessment sales have experienced such significant growth that it is now the largest single category of educational technology sales – defined as software, digital content, and related digital services – reported by vendors responding to the SIIA annual U.S. Education Technology Market: PreK-12 survey. Sales in this category have increased a dramatic 57 percent over the last three years of the survey. For the 2012-2013 school year, sales in the testing and assessment category represented almost $2.5 billion.

“In looking carefully at the data for SIIA’s annual report, we saw the growth of testing and assessment as a trend that prompted further questions about the reasons for this growth, and the need for this report,” said Dr. John Richards, president of Consulting Services for Education (CS4Ed). “We’re pleased that 20 companies provided the further information to us."

Participants almost universally identified four key factors affecting the recent growth of the digital testing and assessment market segment:

  1. The Common Core State Standards are Changing Curricula
  2. The Rollout of Common Core Assessments is Galvanizing Activity
  3. There is Widespread Demand for More and Better Formative Assessments
  4. Testing and Assessment is Leading the Transition from Print to Digital

“We view the growth of the PreK-12 testing and assessment market segment over the last several years even more remarkable, given that it has occurred in difficult economic times during an overall PreK-12 budget and spending decline,” said Karen Billings, vice president of the SIIA Education Division.

To access the Executive Summary of the report go to www.siia.net.

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Parallel Architectural Products

    Armstrong World Industries, provider of interior and exterior architectural applications, recently announced that it has acquired the Colorado-based Parallel Architectural Products, according to a news release.