NCLB Law Bestows Bounty on Test Industry

The No Child Left Behind Act has spawned new opportunities—and challenges—for an increasingly diverse testing industry.

With all of the federal law’s testing requirements, the Government Accountability Office estimates that states will have to spend between $1.9 billion and $5.3 billion in the next six years, depending on the types of tests used.

That prospect has led to new openings both for traditional test publishers—like CTB/McGraw-Hill and Harcourt Assessment—and for a host of middle-market or niche players who are scrambling to keep...