DESE administers the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), a statewide standardized test that measures student performance as a prerequisite to graduation. In 2016, DESE entered into a five-year, full-service, $150.8 million contract with Cognia, formerly Measured Progress. According to this contract, Cognia was to develop, administer, score, and report MCAS test results. This contract, and its eventual extensions, covered school years beginning in 2017 through June 30, 2024. The table below outlines the annual costs of DESE’s initial contract and its subsequent extensions with Cognia, based on DESE records.
| Fiscal Year | Annual Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Contract, Year 1 | 2017 | $ 37,712,218 |
| Initial Contract, Year 2 | 2018 | 31,686,802 |
| Initial Contract, Year 3 | 2019 | 30,826,049 |
| Initial Contract, Year 4 | 2020 | 30,526,991 |
| Initial Contract, Year 5 | 2021 | 30,691,261 |
| Contract Extension, Year 6 | 2022 | 31,682,141 |
| Contract Extension, Year 7 | 2023 | 30,851,233 |
| Contract Extension, Year 8 | 2024 | 36,500,000 |
| Total | $ 260,476,695* |
* While the initial contract’s original award value was $150.8 million, this number reflects the actual amount DESE spent throughout the years on Cognia’s services.
DESE became eligible to begin the state’s official bid solicitation process for a new contract related to MCAS administration starting in June 2023. Bids from potential contractors were due in August 2023. In April 2024, after the bid solicitation process was complete, DESE entered into a five-year, full-service, $179.6 million contract with Cognia once again to develop, administer, score, and report MCAS test results. Aggregate and anonymous MCAS test results, which are available to the public via DESE’s website, include built-in annual comparison displays and summary tables that present yearly percentage changes and multiyear trends in student achievement and growth metrics.
| Date published: | August 26, 2025 |
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