Question of the Week
Q: What is the current status of the contract award to the College Board for the SAT Junior State Administration?
A: The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is required to follow the Kentucky Model Procurement Code (KRS Chapter 45A), which governs how state agencies purchase goods and services, including large-scale contracts like statewide assessments. This process is designed to ensure fairness in vendor selection and was facilitated by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The Kentucky Department of Education followed all procedures outlined in state laws.
The recent change in assessment vendor was the result of a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which evaluated multiple factors, including the technical quality of each proposal submitted by vendors and cost. The decision to move forward with the College Board is the result of a legally required procurement process.
With that being said, KDE has received a protest against the award of the contract with the College Board. At this point, all work toward the contract has paused while the process is completed.
The protest may impact the timing and outcome of the contract. KDE continues to work closely with the Finance and Administration Cabinet to follow all procurement laws and determine next steps. More detailed information about the change will be coming as we move forward. KDE will be sharing updates and guidance to help districts and stakeholders understand the transition and what it means for students and schools.
For any questions, please contact Christen Roseberry.
Updated Family Handouts and WIDA Webpages
This summer, WIDA has been making updates to the assessment family handouts and the Assess pages on the WIDA website.
Updates to Family Handouts:
- WIDA created a brand-new What is WIDA Screener? handout for families (the handout replaces the Explaining ELL Status and What Is Language Testing? flyers, which were retired July 1, 2025).
- WIDA published a brand-new What is WIDA Alternate Screener? handout for families. Kentucky districts and schools will use the screener starting on July 1, 2026.
- WIDA redesigned the What is WIDA ACCESS? handout for families.
Updates to WIDA Webpages:
- WIDA consolidated three WIDA Screener webpages (Online, Paper, Kindergarten) into one WIDA Screener webpage. In addition to key details about these three assessments, this refreshed page now includes guidance for educators on preparing for, administering and scoring WIDA Screener, and information about WIDA Screener scores.
- WIDA published the brand-new WIDA Alternate Screener webpage and WIDA Alternate Screener Score Calculator webpage. Kentucky districts and schools can get familiar with the webpages but will be used starting July 1, 2026.
- WIDA refreshed and combined the content on our three WIDA ACCESS webpages (Online, Paper, Kindergarten) into one WIDA ACCESS webpage. Visit this page to compare test features and scores for each of the WIDA ACCESS assessments.
All these webpages include a Resources to Share with Families section. For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual Updated for 2025-2026
The 2025-2026 Accessibility and Accommodations Manual is now available on the Resources/Recursos page on the WIDA website. This year’s updates include:
- An updated description of the Braille (BR) accommodation for WIDA ACCESS Paper, which includes the Speaking domain beginning in 2025-2026
- The new Low Vision Script (LV) accommodation for WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten.
- The WIDA Alternate Screener Participation Decision Tree and an accommodations checklist for WIDA Alternate Screener. Kentucky districts and schools will use the screener and checklist starting on July 1, 2026, but staff can start becoming familiar with these resources.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
July DAC Webcast Highlights
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS), hosted its live monthly DAC Webcast on Thursday, July 10, at 11 a.m. ET. Associate Commissioner Jennifer Stafford, along with Christen Roseberry, Tiffany Christopher, Chris Williams and Shara Savage shared timely updates on assessment and accountability, including:
- College Admissions Exam
- K Screen Reminder
- 2025–2026 Upcoming Important Dates
The recording and presentation materials are now available on the KDE Media Portal and the KDE Meetings and Trainings page.
Future broadcasts are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. ET.
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