Westport Public Schools is seeking proposals for a comprehensive, independent review of its PK-12 special education programs and services. The review should examine program alignment with student needs, support for least restrictive environment (LRE), fidelity of delivery, student outcomes, and resource effectiveness. Key components include designing and administering district-wide surveys for families and staff, conducting onsite observations, analyzing data and IEPs, and providing evidence-based findings and prioritized recommendations. The project timeline is four to six months from kickoff. Proposals are due September 1, 2026. Respondents must be shortlisted from a previous RFQ. Mandatory commitments include survey design/administration, onsite visits, stakeholder engagement, and a final report with recommendations. The review will focus on system-level program effectiveness, not individual disputes or legal findings.
The base scope must be completed within four to six months from notice to proceed through final report and board presentation. The proposal submission deadline is September 1, 2026.
A proposed payment schedule tied to deliverables or milestones is required. Pricing shall include a fixed, not-to-exceed total price for the complete base scope.
The district is not obligated to select the lowest-cost proposal. Technical merit, feasibility, risk, cost reasonableness, and overall value will inform final selection.
Shortlisted respondents must demonstrate district-wide PK-12 special education program review experience, a named review team with substantial leadership experience, familiarity with IDEA implementation and Connecticut data structures, demonstrated family survey and stakeholder engagement expertise, ability to conduct structured onsite school visits, strong research methodology, capacity to complete the review within the timeframe, FERPA-aligned data protections, and ability to provide practical recommendations.
Onsite visits and observations are central components and a high priority of this review. Respondents shall propose an observation and sampling plan that provides sufficient building and program coverage to support reliable system-level conclusions. The review must include all school levels and all major program types.
The document does not explicitly mention sample submission requirements for the proposals themselves, but it does require the review to include analysis of IEPs and data.
Failure to comply with the no-contact requirement, which prohibits contacting district employees, officers, board of education members, students, families, or officials concerning this procurement outside the authorized process, may result in disqualification.
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