Formative assessment for ELA & math k-8

The South Carolina Department of Education is requesting proposals for formative assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics for grades K–8, with proposals due September 16, 2026 and a pre-proposal conference scheduled for August 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM via Microsoft Teams. The State intends to award up to five contracts to vendors whose proposals are determined most advantageous and meet all specified criteria.

Assessments must align with South Carolina College and Career Ready standards at a minimum 90 percent alignment threshold and comply with the Education Accountability Act, ESEA Standards and Assessments Peer Review Guidance, and Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. Vendors must submit assessment items in Excel and PDF formats organized by grade level and indicator, with five items per indicator except where specific ELA sub-indicators designate otherwise. Items must be scored by state reviewers for alignment decision (yes/no) prior to award. The scope includes customized materials and accommodations for students with disabilities and multilingual learners, virtual school administration support, and assessment results delivery via Ed-Fi API in accordance with South Carolina Assessment Governance Procedures.

Pricing follows a per-student model covering all costs for training, paper test materials, online testing, scoring, and reporting across both subjects and all grade levels for a four-year contract term. Vendors must complete a bidding schedule with per-student pricing for each grade level and fiscal year. An administrative services fee of 1.25 percent of total dollar purchases applies. School districts invoice vendors directly; the South Carolina Department of Education provides partial funding and does not invoice.

The estimated contract period runs from February 1, 2027 through October 30, 2031, comprising an initial one-year term with three optional one-year renewals plus an additional seven-month term. The assessments will serve approximately 71 school districts, three charter school districts, and the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. Technical proposals represent 80 percent of evaluation (including a pass/fail research study component worth 12 percent and proposed assessment information worth 68 percent); cost proposals represent 20 percent. Questions are due August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Award notification is scheduled for January 15, 2027.