Item 119.A.3.d. (Chapter 725, 2025 Acts of Assembly) requires the Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction to procure an assessment vendor to analyze options for implementing an innovative new statewide assessment system that supports high-quality teaching and learning in Virginia’s K-12 public schools.

In accordance with this requirement, the Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction established an Innovative Assessment Work Group consisting of representatives from organizations that include superintendents, teachers, principals, curriculum development and assessment specialists, and experts in statewide assessment implementation. This Work Group is charged with providing critical input to inform the development of a new, innovative statewide assessment system.

In September, invitations were distributed to stakeholder organizations to nominate qualified participants. Nominees had to have expertise in one or more of the following areas: assessment design and administration, using assessment outcomes to improve instruction, implementation and change management, testing accommodations, or teaching and assessing a variety of student groups (multilingual learners, students with disabilities, advanced learners, etc.). The Secretary and Superintendent approved the final list of nominees to serve on the Work Group. The Innovative Assessment Work Group had a kickoff meeting on October 30, 2025. At this meeting, participants reviewed the purpose and goals of the Work Group, examined the current status of the assessment system and progress made on HB 585, reviewed and provided input on sample innovative assessment items, and discussed next steps. The Work Group will produce an initial set of recommendations by January 2026.

Item 119.A.3.a. of the budget included $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 to procure a vendor to analyze options for implementing a new statewide assessment system. This appropriation failed to include language authorizing mandatory carryforward of the funds from Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2026. With the timing of the approved funding being close to the end of the Fiscal Year (June 30, 2025), there was insufficient time to develop, issue, and award a quality RFP for the assessment consultant as outlined in the Appropriation Act. In a typical fiscal year, any discretionary carryover request requires the Governor’s approval (Item 4-1.05.a., Chapter 725), with approval typically occurring annually in the fall. The Department was proactive and requested an expedited review of the carryover request specific to this allocation of funding, so we could move forward with issuing an RFP for an assessment consultant due to the time horizon for an effective analysis and informed decisions/recommendations for next steps. The Governor approved the expedited carryover request on August 25, 2025. To ensure compliance with procurement policies and procedures, the Department had to ensure that the carryover request was approved, and carryover funding was allotted prior to posting an RFP, and approved funding/appropriation was available to support the awarding of a contract to an assessment consultant.

On October 6, 2025, the Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure an innovative assessment consultant to analyze high-quality assessment systems in other states and provide recommendations for Virginia’s future statewide assessment system. The RFP closed on October 27, 2025. The Department is in the process of evaluating proposals and selecting a vendor. The Department received five responses to the RFP and anticipate awarding the contract by November 15, 2025.

This report details the significant progress made toward fulfilling requirements in the Appropriation Act and developing a more innovative and meaningful assessment system that advances teaching and learning across the Commonwealth.