State Education Agency Assessment Signals

Four high-stakes RFPs issued this month: - New Hampshire seeking vendor for State and Federal Assessment and Accountability Systems implementation support - comprehensive platform and reporting - Minnesota Teacher Licensure Testing contract (responses due Feb 5) - test development, administration, scoring services - Kentucky Migrant Evaluation Service Delivery Plan and Comprehensive Needs Assessment ($50K-$200K range, early February deadline) - Utah ACT-aligned online college readiness platform ($500K-$2M range, closing Feb 24) Active decision windows: Montana MAST Window 2 open (Jan 12-Mar 6) with Science pilot launching Spring 2026 (grades 6-8, Apr 13-May 8, recruitment underway). Kansas Board approved initiating RFP for Kansas Integrated Accountability System maintenance/enhancements (through June 2030, up to $1M from ESEA/IDEA funds). Maryland implementing statewide adolescent literacy screeners with pilot in SY 2026-27 and full rollout SY 2027-28. Assessment system shifts: Louisiana changing high school EOC structure effective 2027-28 (one English and one math exam at end of year two, reducing testing time). Nevada advancing district performance framework with Center for Assessment (preliminary ratings August 2026). Maryland piloting Kindergarten Readiness Assessment with Star Early Literacy and Star Math (fall window complete, winter/spring monitoring optional). California piloting Smarter Balanced math performance tasks for spring 2027 embedded field testing.

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Three high-stakes RFPs issued this month: - California seeking comprehensive assessment contractor for CAASPP (affects 6M+ students) - major incumbent replacement opportunity with full system scope (implementation, development, administration, scoring, reporting, technology) - Kansas reading/math assessment RFP (5-year contract starting July 2026, through June 2031) - long-term commitment with annual licensing structure - Mississippi kindergarten readiness assessment - new statewide requirement Active decision windows: Alaska finalizing Alternate ACCESS exit criteria (30-day comment period opens Dec 3). Iowa implementing revised assessment for Spring 2026 aligned to updated standards with clearer proficiency definitions. Montana Board advancing assessment consultant work (Solomon Research Group) with recommendations due late February 2026. Assessment system shifts: Montana's MAST through-year system went live (Window 1 opened Oct 13 with 29,000+ testlets in week one, weekly reporting active). Nevada approved i-Ready as statewide Read by Grade 3 assessment for 2025-26. North Carolina released final 2024-25 state assessment results with new science baseline.