USBE to issue RFP for new 9th–10th grade assessments; scoring committee to include assessment directors

An assessment office official for the Utah State Board of Education said the state will begin a competitive request-for-proposals process to procure new ninth- and tenth-grade assessments, reversing earlier discussion of a sole-source amendment.

The assessment director (name not specified) told assessment directors that the procurement team and superintendent determined a competitive RFP was appropriate because a sole-source award would likely be protested and delay the process. “We needed to move forward with a competitive bid process,” the assessment director said.

Why it matters: the procurement schedule affects whether Utah ends up with a single testing platform for grades 3–10 or two different platforms (K–8 vs. high school). Several district and charter assessment directors have urged a single platform to reduce training burden and cost; USBE staff said that preference will be considered in scoring but that selection could still yield a different vendor for high school assessments than for grades 3–8.

Key timeline and process details provided by staff: - Drafting and scoring: USBE is drafting the RFP and scoring documents; the office plans to post the RFP May 5–May 30 and to convene a scoring committee in mid-June. - Scoring committee composition: staff plan to include at least two local assessment directors, a U.S. Department of Education representative, and an educator on the scoring team. - Board review: staff aim to present the resulting contract on the board’s August 7 consent calendar. If the board approves the contract in August, staff plan to begin item development in September. - Contract and administration: the new contract would start July 1, 2026, with course-based high school assessments expected for spring 2027. USBE said a fall 2026 administration of new high-school course tests is unlikely.

Staff explained that if the scoring committee selects the same vendor already used for grades 3–8, the state could proceed by contract amendment to expand that vendor’s work. If the selected vendor differs, a new contract would be needed. The director also said canceling existing contracts and RFPing the entire 3–10 portfolio would likely be substantially more expensive, and current K–8 contracts run through 2031.

Stakeholder reaction: assessment directors in the meeting reiterated a strong preference for a single platform to reduce workload for small districts with limited staff. Staff asked for volunteers to serve on the June scoring committee.

Next steps: USBE staff will post the RFP in early May, recruit scoring panelists in May–June, and return to the board in August with a recommended contract and timeline for item development.

Ending: Staff urged jurisdictions with concerns about a split-platform outcome to participate on the scoring committee and submit input during the procurement process.