Dive Brief:

• Nationwide, Common Core spending has topped $7 billion according to analysis by The Wall Street Journal. But more money will be required to fully implement the program.
• Out of 45 states that adopted the standards, "seven have since repealed or amended them." Twelve additional states are reconsidering Common Core.
• The largest barrier to Common Core testing has been the expense for districts to upgrade to the required computerized testing, instead of paper tests.

Dive Insight:

The hurdles for broad adoption of Common Core range from political to financial, with the president delivering a big blow when he called for limits on standardized testing. 

Even within the 38 states still working towards Common Core, there is little consensus in training teachers, what they should teach, or which materials and technology they should implement. 

"Large disparities in technology and training remain among the participating 38 states," EdSurge reports. The tech upgrades have been difficult for many districts to manage, and part of the reason is because some don't have the broadband infrastructure necessary to support students taking tests online. Although e-rate funding can mitigate the problem, it's not enough.