For the center for collaborative education; provided, that the center and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell shall manage an alternative assessment pilot program that shall be administered under contract with the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment; provided further, that not less than $247,500 shall be expended for the center to directly support the member districts of the consortium in developing and piloting tools and practices to assess student and school performance; provided further, that not less than $247,500 shall be expended for the university to disseminate tools and practices developed within the consortium, making such tools and practices freely available to all schools and districts; and provided further, that the consortium shall issue an annual report that includes recommendations to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the joint committee on education
