Smarter Balanced Issues Request for Proposals for Accessibility and Inclusion Resources
Santa Clara, CA, April 6, 2026 — Today, Smarter Balanced, a member-led assessment consortium serving students in math and English language arts (ELA) in grades 3-12, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking organizations to support the development of accessibility and inclusion resources for its assessment system. The effort aims to expand equitable access to high-quality assessments and ensure that all students, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities, can fully engage with Smarter Balanced assessments.
The RFP seeks to identify one or more organizations capable of developing and delivering a comprehensive suite of accessibility resources aligned with Smarter Balanced standards and guidelines. These resources include text-to-speech (TTS), Spanish TTS, Braille transcription, English and translated glossaries, illustrated glossaries, Spanish translations of assessment content, and American Sign Language video supports. All resources must be developed with a strong focus on quality, consistency, and alignment within Smarter Balanced’s Test and Item Management System. The RFP also emphasizes innovative uses of technology to expand student access to rigorous content.
This effort builds on Smarter Balanced’s ongoing commitment to inclusive assessment practices and responds to the growing needs of member states to provide accessible, standards-aligned tools that support diverse student populations. The work will adhere to rigorous quality control processes; industry standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA; and strict test security protocols to ensure the reliability and integrity of all deliverables.
Selected organizations will have the opportunity to collaborate with Smarter Balanced to advance accessibility across a multi-state assessment system, contributing to the development of high-quality resources that directly support teaching and learning nationwide.
The RFP is now available to the public via the University of California Public Bid website (RFP 003948-Mar2026). Please see the overview document for additional information.
Responses are due by Friday, May 8, 2026 at 5 p.m. Pacific time. A notification of award is anticipated in June 2026, with project kickoff expected in July 2026.
For more information or questions, please contact Rita Bruce, Procurement and Supply Chain Services, at llbruce@ucsc.edu.
About Smarter Balanced
Smarter Balanced is a member-led consortium providing the most comprehensive and innovative standards-aligned system that supports teaching and learning and improves local and statewide systems. Our dynamic system of educational tools — developed in collaboration with our members and educators — gives teachers integrated lessons, activities, and methods of gauging progress, along with interim and summative assessments that provide actionable data as students progress toward college- and career-readiness. www.smarterbalanced.org
Media Contact: Kimberly Blanchard, Director of External Affairs Programs | kimberly.blanchard@smarterbalanced.org | (831) 316-2549
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