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Mississippi Board of Education approves one-year emergency KRA contract with Renaissance Learning
Summary
The Mississippi Board of Education on May 27 approved a one-year emergency contract with Renaissance Learning to administer the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment for 2025–26, authorizing up to $510,000.
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Board of Education on May 27 approved a one-year emergency contract with Renaissance Learning to administer the statewide Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) for the 2025–26 school year, authorizing up to $510,000 for the contract term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
The board met by special-call teleconference and voted unanimously among members present to approve the emergency contract after staff told the board the department had terminated its existing contract with Istation/Ameri Learning effective June 30, 2025, and required an interim vendor to administer the assessment next school year. Dr. Vandiford, speaking for staff, said the termination was for convenience because the department was “not satisfied with the product and the delivery of services.”
Board members and staff said the one-year agreement is intended only to bridge the coming school year while the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) completes a new competitive request for proposals (RFP) to select a longer-term vendor. Dr. Vandiford told the board that ITS executed the termination of Istation/Ameri Learning and that assessment staff were preparing a new RFP to be released after the emergency contract period.
The motion to approve the emergency contract was made by Mike Pruitt and seconded by Mary Warner; the board recorded unanimous support among members present and the motion carried. The special-call meeting record shows the board’s authorization is limited to the single-year emergency contract and does not represent a multi-year procurement.
During discussion, Warner asked why the prior contract was canceled: “My question is, why are we canceling the other contract? What have they done or what have they not done?” Dr. Vandiford responded, “We terminated the contract, in for convenience. We we just were not satisfied with the the product and the delivery of services. It was not what we thought and that was in the best interest of the state.”
The agenda materials at the start of the teleconference included a vendor name that differed from staff comments; the agenda referenced “Windows Online Learning,” while staff described Renaissance Learning as the emergency vendor. The board did not provide additional documentation during the special call explaining that discrepancy; the approved action and staff remarks identify Renaissance Learning as the vendor for the one-year emergency contract.
The board adjourned after the vote. Staff said the next procurement step is to complete and release a competitive RFP for KRA administration after the emergency contract year ends.
