RFI: Universal Literacy Screeners

The Maryland State Department of Education is requesting information on universal literacy screeners for Pre-K through Grade 12 under RFI #R00B6600212, with responses due July 22, 2026. This is an information-gathering initiative to establish a vetted list of approved screening tools for mandatory tri-annual administration beginning in School Year 2026-2027; no procurement will result from this RFI phase, though it will inform future formal solicitations.

Screeners must measure grade-specific literacy domains including phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and rapid automatic naming. Vendors may submit for one or more grade bands: Pre-K, K-3, 4-5, or 6-12. Pre-K assessments must be completable in under 10 minutes; all other grades in proportionally brief periods not exceeding one class period. Assessment platforms must support both teacher-administered and digital administration options with comparable offline versions and must be compatible with standard Maryland school operating systems and devices.

Technical submissions must document peer-reviewed validation studies with minimum 0.80 reliability coefficients, strong validity evidence, and normative data current within the past five years. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, COMAR 14.18.02 security standards, and the State of Maryland Information Technology Security Manual, supported by relevant certifications or assessments (SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001, or FedRAMP authorization where available). The platform must maintain 99.5% uptime during administration windows and integrate with common student information systems.

Submission package includes a letter of interest, vendor qualifications resume, technical reports, administration guide, scoring guide, teacher's guide, sample test items representing each required skill per grade level, and digital platform visuals. Vendors previously approved for K-3 screeners may submit only for additional grade bands or resubmit for all levels. Vendors previously rejected for K-3 consideration may not resubmit for K-3 unless the screener includes new supporting research. The approved screener list is scheduled for release January–February 2027. No cost information is required at this RFI phase. Small, minority, and veteran-owned businesses are encouraged to respond.