Specifications include, but are not limited to: The BOARD requests proposals for a vendor to provide standard-based assessment item banks (preferably divisible into an embargoed benchmark assessment item bank, and a non-embargoed school-level assessment item bank) to be used with our existing instructional management system (IMS), Performance Matters, for K-12 courses in Reading/English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics. 1. A Maryland standards based assessment item bank easily divisible into two item banks is required (the selected consultant will be required to work with our existing IMS provider, Performance Matters, to load and secure items as described below): a. The first bank will contain all of the items to be used for benchmark assessments for each grade, content area, and course; this pool must be secured such that only curriculum and assessment staff can access these items; b. The second bank will contain similar items to those included in the secured pool for each grade, content area, and course, but will be accessible by teachers and school-based instructional staff to develop classroom and school-based formative assessments. 2. The standards-based assessment item banks will include English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies for students in Grades Kindergarten through 8; as well as, high school courses. The banks must contain at a minimum items for the following high school courses: ninth and tenth grade English Literature, American Literature, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, Integrating the Sciences, Physical Science, Local, National and State Government (MD), United States History and World History. 3. All items must be aligned to the new Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (ELA, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) and Next Generation Science Standards and illustrate the level of rigor and complexity inherent within the standards at each grade level. 4. Banks must contain the following item types: a. Selected response (required in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) b. Constructed response (required in ELA and Math; preferred in Science and Social Studies) c. Technology enhanced (required in ELA and Math; preferred in Science and Social Studies) d. Technology enabled (required in ELA and Math; preferred in Science and Social Studies)