Learning Standards Review

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has initiated a sole source procurement for a Learning Standards Review contract with the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP). The contract aims to convene focus groups of educators to review and provide feedback on learning standards revisions across four content areas: Science, Health, Physical Education, and World Language. CSTP will be responsible for recruiting up to thirty educators per content area, coordinating both in-person and virtual sessions, managing logistics including registration, communication, technology support, and participant reimbursements. The contractor must deliver a comprehensive report summarizing focus group notes and feedback, with specific emphasis on incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion while screening for potential biased content. The procurement is driven by Engrossed Senate Bill 5462, which mandates periodic review of learning standards, and is targeted for the period of April through June 2025. The solicitation covers multiple jurisdictions across Washington State, including but not limited to Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Chelan, and Yakima Counties.

The sole source contract is specifically designated for CSTP, selected due to their extensive experience working with educational organizations and proven track record of facilitating educator focus groups. No competitive bidding process is being conducted, as CSTP has demonstrated over 20 years of experience in elevating teacher voice and advocating for educational equity. The total contract value is $106,930, with key requirements including recruiting a diverse pool of educators and implementing a rigorous bias and equity screening process. The organization will be responsible for comprehensive documentation and reporting of the learning standards review process. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are noted in the procurement documents. The contract emphasizes the importance of gathering comprehensive educator feedback to support the revision of state learning standards, with a focus on creating inclusive and equitable educational content across the specified subject areas.