Literacy Screeners and Diagnostics

The Louisiana Department of Education issued a Request for Applications (RFA) to identify and approve organizations capable of providing literacy skills screeners, diagnostic assessments, and professional learning services to Louisiana school systems serving students in grades K-12 across East Baton Rouge Parish and Baton Rouge City. The RFA seeks vendors with demonstrated expertise in three specialized areas: literacy skills screeners for grades 4-12, literacy diagnostic assessments for grades K-12, and professional learning to support implementation of these assessment tools. All proposed assessments must be fixed-form, aligned to the Science of Reading, and free of three-cueing methodologies in accordance with Louisiana Act 517. Applicants must clearly indicate which assessment categories they are pursuing and provide detailed descriptions of their proposed screeners and diagnostics, including evidence of validity and reliability. The evaluation process utilizes a pass/fail methodology across four eligibility indicators: Program Description, Design, Communication and Delivery, and Logistics, with vendors required to achieve passing scores on all four indicators to secure approval. The RFA accepts applications bi-yearly during spring (April 30 - May 30) and fall (October 1 - October 31) submission windows through the LDOE Professional Learning Platform, with review panels evaluating applications by June 30 and November 30, respectively, and approved vendors notified and added to the Vendor Catalog within seven days of notification.

The RFA does not specify predetermined contract award amounts, as approved vendors will partner directly with individual Louisiana school systems or school districts to provide services through separate contractual agreements negotiated between the vendor and each school entity. Applicants must submit proposed pricing and fee structures as part of their application and demonstrate that rates are at fair market value. The opportunity emphasizes organizational capacity to serve all learners, including students with disabilities and English learners, and vendors must offer flexible delivery options to support implementation across diverse school environments. No appeals are considered for unsuccessful applicants; however, unsuccessful vendors are encouraged to reapply during future RFA cycles. The approved vendors list serves as an informational resource for school systems seeking to implement coherent, evidence-aligned literacy assessment systems aligned to Louisiana's Tiered Pathways for Literacy Support Framework. Schools remain responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local procurement policies when contracting with approved vendors.