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_ 160 Item Details($) Appropriations($) ITEM 119. First Year Second Year First Year Second Year FY2025 FY2026 FY2025 FY2026 shall include in its annual report a plan to implement a new state assessment system, including a revised timeframe; estimated short- and long-term costs, including the costs to transition to the new system; staffing and training needs; key milestones; and project deliverables. The Department shall request the funding needed to implement the new contract for inclusion in the Governor's introduced budget bill for the 2025 Regular Session. The Department may consider issuing a request for information (RFI) as part of the process to better determine the costs and requirements of the new system. The Department shall submit the annual report no later than November 1, 2024. b. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law, the Department of Education is authorized to extend current assessment contracts for one additional year to provide sufficient time for the Department to initiate procurement processes as necessary to select an assessment vendor.is directed and authorized to pursue an extension to the current assessment contracts through December 31, 2027 to allow sufficient time for the Department to complete procurement processes as necessary to select an assessment vendor. Extensions to the existing assessment contracts shall not be subject to the provisions for renewals of high risk contracts. 3. a. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for the Department and Secretary of Education to procure a vendor to analyze options for implementing an innovative new statewide assessment system to support high-quality teaching and learning in public K-12 schools in Virginia. The new assessment system shall align with Virginia's Standards of Learning with the goal of implementation by the 2027-2028 school year. The selected vendor shall have demonstrated expertise in K-12 statewide assessment systems and the development of comprehensive reports with recommendations for state education agencies. b. The Department and Secretary of Education shall establish a workgroup to provide input on the needs of the assessment system, participate in the work of the vendor, and consist, at a minimum, of representatives of statewide organizations that represent superintendents, teachers, principals, and curriculum development and assessment, and individuals with experience implementing statewide assessment systems. c. The scope of work for the vendor shall include: 1. An analysis of high-quality assessment systems in other states, emphasizing models that incorporate: (a) alignment with state standards and instructional goals; (b) non-traditional assessments, such as project-based or performance-based approaches; (c) accessibility for English learners and students with disabilities, with examples of accommodations and multilingual assessments from other states; (d) advanced technology integration, such as adaptive testing and online platforms, including infrastructure requirements and associated costs; (e) integration of authentic growth measures that provide formative feedback for educators and could be integrated into a statewide assessment system; (f) feedback on the application of knowledge and higher-level reasoning skills as described in the standards; and (g) best practices for release of rubrics, sample items and tasks, anchor papers, exemplars, and other resources that clarify the benchmarks for success. 2. An evaluation of the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of pilot testing components of the proposed assessment system before full implementation. 3. Guidance and recommendations for the Department to develop a competitive RFP for vendors to redesign and manage the statewide assessment system, and recommendations for the Department and school divisions to implement best practices in change management, proposed training, and staffing to ensure a successful transition to a new system. 4. A proposed implementation timeline and identification of key performance indicators for a successful transition to a new system. 5. Compliance with federal requirements, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). d. The Department and Secretary of Education shall provide a detailed project plan of the work of the vendor and monthly email status updates to the Chairs and staff of the Senate Finance and Appropriations, Senate Education and Health, House Appropriations, and House Education Committees, and submit a final report that includes options for building a high-quality assessment system and associated costs, to the Chairs of the Senate Finance and