The KDE issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in June seeking a contractor with demonstrated national expertise and experience in developing, administering, scoring and reporting a proven assessment that provides national comparison data on student performance. The RFP required that the assessment also produce valid and reliable scores at the individual student level.

Riverside Publishing proposed the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills^® (ITBS^®), along with a cost-effective plan, which allows the Commonwealth to meet the legislative requirements. Riverside will provide user-friendly materials and comprehensive scoring and reporting services for the Spring 2010 and 2011 test administrations.

The ITBS, developed by University of Iowa educational researchers, is built on more empirical research than any other assessment of its kind in the market today. The highly respected test is designed to provide meaningful, reliable and easily interpreted information to educators, parents and students. In addition to its high technical quality, the ITBS is also well-aligned with the Kentucky core content. The ITBS will provide Kentucky districts with an accurate representation of student achievement at a statewide and national level.

Riverside Publishing President Richard Swartz is confident that Riverside will meet the needs of KDE as well as Kentucky’s educators, students and parents.

“Riverside is proud to support Kentucky educators in this important initiative to use reliable data for diagnostic purposes and to make informed instructional decisions,” he said in a statement.