VDOE Issues RFP to Modernize and Deliver a High-Quality K-12 Assessment System

For Immediate Release: July 27, 2026
Contact: [email protected]

RICHMOND, Va. -The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced today a Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued for the Commonwealth's K-12 assessment system, building on years of support and direction from the General Assembly to ensure that the design and delivery of Virginia's assessment system will support strong teaching and learning in all classrooms.

"The RFP is an important step for delivering on the promise of high-quality education for all of Virginia's students," said Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jenna Conway. "After years of delay, preparing and releasing this RFP has been a top priority for the Department over the last six months. We appreciate all the teachers, parents and community members who provided input into our work and look forward to a fair and competitive process that delivers a modernized, high-quality assessment system to support the academic progress of Virginia's students."

The RFP process will result in the selection of a vendor to administer all summative statewide Standards of Learning assessments, commonly known as the "SOLs," required by state and federal law starting in 3rd grade. The contract with the current vendor has not been competitively revisited since 2005, and the General Assembly has determined that the current contract will conclude at the end of 2027.

"This is our opportunity to select an assessment vendor that will take our testing system to the next level and ensure it truly serves students, parents, and teachers," said Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg. "The General Assembly has made a modernized assessment system a priority, and this RFP will be the foundation for selecting a partner that effectively uses public funds to create assessments that foster high standards, measure vital skills and knowledge, provide actionable information, are transparent, and ensure students reach their full potential."

The vision for the next generation of Virginia's K-12 assessment system, reflected in the RFP, was informed by policy makers and stakeholders. Over the last two years, two bipartisan workgroups of experts, families, teachers and school leaders convened to provide recommendations.

"For Virginia to continue supporting excellent teaching and learning in every classroom, the Commonwealth's assessment system must be modernized," said Dr. Alan Seibert, member of the Innovative Assessment Workgroup, former Board of Education member, and former division superintendent. "The process to develop the RFP was informed by representative groups of educators, leaders, parents, and experts, bringing valuable perspectives seeking to craft a system that measures progress, informs instruction, and gives students, families, teachers, and policymakers timely information they can actually use."

To continue to raise the bar for student success, the updated assessment system will include more modern, accessible, and rigorous tests, and the system will provide more timely information to educators, principals and families. These updated assessments will feature questions aligned to higher academic standards, include more interactive, Technology-Enhanced Items (TEIs) designed to evaluate and foster students' critical thinking skills. To ensure every student can demonstrate their knowledge, the system will also incorporate more robust accessibility features and accommodations tailored specifically for English learners and students with disabilities.

The system will also provide better, more timely information to both teachers and families to directly support student success. To help educators prepare their classrooms, practice test items will be released for teachers to use during instruction. Additionally, the new system will ensure that families and teachers receive actionable student performance results much faster, allowing for more immediate and effective guidance tailored to each student's needs.

Vendors will have until mid-September to submit their proposals for VDOE evaluation and a selection process that meets the required procurement processes of the Commonwealth.

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