A formal notice of intent to award was issued naming a proposal from American Institutes for Research (AIR), an independent non-profit organization. AIR’s proposal for an assessment called Independent College and Career Readiness Solution scored highest overall in a competitive-bidding process that followed criteria set by Iowa lawmakers this year. Iowa will re-name the assessment once a contract is awarded.
A request for proposals was required by 2017 state legislation (Senate File 240). The Iowa Department of Administrative Services issued the RFP on the education department’s behalf in June. Selection criteria followed requirements outlined in Senate File 240. For each bid, reviewers considered alignment with Iowa’s academic standards and federal law, ability to measure student progress and proficiency, costs, feasibility of implementation for school districts, time required to administer the assessments, and infrastructure and technology needs. Assessments must be available in both paper-and-pencil and computer-based formats.
Eight proposals from six vendors were considered by a review team made up of Iowa school administrators and educators, as well as staff from the Iowa Department of Education. The vendors who submitted bids were ACT Inc., American Institutes for Research, Data Recognition Corporation, Pearson, Questar, and the University of Kansas.
An appeal period of five business days is underway, as required by law. Following this period, an assessment proposal will be taken to the State Board of Education to start the formal administrative rule-making process required for adoption.
A contract for new statewide assessments is expected to run one year and eight months – the time needed to prepare for and administer a new state test -- with an option to renew annually for four more years. Iowa students will take new state assessments for the first time in the spring semester of the 2018-19 school year.
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