With the department’s contract with Data Recognition Corp. set to expire on July 1, the Louisiana Department of Education will soon seek bid proposals for a vendor to provide a new test that is unique to Louisiana but with results that can be compared to other states, Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White told lawmakers on Tuesday.
As The Shreveport Times reports, the new LEAP 2025 tests—the state’s next generation of standardized testing—would replace PARCC, the Common-Core aligned tests for math and English implemented this year, and LEAP that tests science and social studies.
The department has sent four requests for proposals to the Office of Contractual Review. One is an RFP about the administration of the test, which refers to printing it or making it available online. Two refer to questions for the science and social studies sections, and one refers to questions on math and English.
During a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee, White said the test must do five things: measure state content standards in English, math, science and social studies; produce results that can be compared nationally; reduce the amount of tests given in high school; provide teachers with a pre- and post-test; and provide parents with a full sample of the test every year.
“Who the vendor is, I think, doesn’t make much of a difference,” White said. “We will look at the ability of a vendor to make the test.”
He said that could mean a vendor writes the questions themselves or purchases them through other groups. But he said it will be a Louisiana test.
“It will be unique to Louisiana,” he said. “Kids in other states won’t be taking that test.”
White said finding the balance of a unique test that can be compared to other states will be the responsibility of the vendor. That could mean using some questions that other states also use and some questions that are only for Louisiana students, which is one example.
White said the RFP timeline from this point forward is up to the state office and expects it could range from two or three months to a year. But White warned state representatives that the current executive budget cuts out the DOE’s ability to test students.
