Principles: Skill Validation Quality at Scale

Solution providers should complete this form by April 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Please evaluate your solution against each principle. Select a rating, articulate how your solution meets or does not meet each criteria, and provide supporting evidence.

For additional information about this opportunity, please review the RfI Information Sheet.

For each of the six principles below:

• Select a rating
• Provide an explanation of your rating
• Attach/link supporting evidence

 

Rating Scale:

3	Exceeds	The solution goes above and beyond the stated principle.
2	Meets	The solution fully aligns with the principle.
1	Does Not (Yet) Meet	The solution does not (yet) fully align with the principle.

Principle 1: Bias Mitigation

Description: Providers of skills validation solutions should implement processes to mitigate bias in solutions.

Key Question: How does your solution mitigate bias in solutions?

Please base your rating, explanation, and evidence on the following specific criteria in this category: 

• Diverse Design Teams: Skills validation solutions should be designed by teams with diverse backgrounds to incorporate diverse perspectives.
• Sensitivity Reviews: Teams should conduct regular audits to identify and mitigate potential biases in skills validation solutions.
• Bias Audits of AI & Human Validation Processes: Validation processes, both AI-driven and human-led, should be regularly audited to identify and mitigate potential biases.

Use the link and/or upload fields below to provide evidence of your solution's alignment to this principle and its criteria. If needed, provide guidance on where reviewers should look within the provided materials to find the desired evidence. 

It's OK to use the same URL/file more than once throughout this submission.

Principle 2: Accessibility, Fairness, & Inclusivity

Description: Skills validation solutions should be fair, inclusive, and accessible to all individuals, regardless of disabilities, native language, or lived experience.

Key Question: How have you ensured your solution is fair, inclusive, and accessible to all individuals, regardless of disabilities, native language, or lived experience?

Please base your rating, explanation, and evidence on the following specific criteria in this category: 

• Multilingual and Contextual Adaptation: Validation solutions should be offered in multiple languages and avoid culturally specific references that could disadvantage some groups.
• Flexible Demonstration Options: While the criteria being evaluated must remain consistent, solutions should accommodate multiple forms of evidence of skills, appropriate to the skill being evaluated (e.g., oral, written, physical demonstration). 
• Assistive and Adaptive Technology: Digital solutions should support screen readers, closed captions, and alternative input methods for individuals with disabilities.
• Fairness in Validation: Validation solutions should ensure individuals have equal access regardless of characteristics such as location or income, and should accommodate individuals who have low-bandwidth or mobile-only Internet access.

Use the link and/or upload fields below to provide evidence of your solution's alignment to this principle and its criteria. If needed, provide guidance on where reviewers should look within the provided materials to find the desired evidence. 

It's OK to use the same URL/file more than once throughout this submission.

Principle 3: Transparency & Trust

Description: Skills validation solutions should provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of how skills are defined, evaluated, and validated.

Key Question: How have you ensured your solution provides stakeholders with a clear understanding of how skills are defined, evaluated, and validated?

Please base your rating, explanation, and evidence on the following specific criteria in this category: 

• Clearly Defined Skill Criteria: Solutions should validate skills based on objective, observable definitions and explicitly articulated criteria.
• Transparent Results: Solutions should provide Individuals with full visibility into their results, including clear explanations of how scoring and evaluation took place.
• Constructive Feedback Mechanisms: Where appropriate, skill validation solutions should provide individuals with clear, actionable feedback to support skill development in areas where skill gaps are surfaced.
• Analytics & Actionable Insights: Solutions should leverage analytics and reporting to generate actionable insights for relevant stakeholders (e.g., employers, educators) to support instruction and decision-making.
• Human Oversight of AI Evaluation: AI-driven solutions should always be complemented by human judgment to account for accuracy and context.
• Explainable AI & Algorithm Transparency: If AI is used, evaluation processes and algorithms should be documented, explainable, and auditable.

Use the link and/or upload fields below to provide evidence of your solution's alignment to this principle and its criteria. If needed, provide guidance on where reviewers should look within the provided materials to find the desired evidence. 

It's OK to use the same URL/file more than once throughout this submission.

Principle 4: Performance-Based Evidence & Real-World Contexts

Description: Skills should be validated through demonstrable evidence, in real-world contexts, rather than relying solely on proxies or or knowledge-based evaluations.

Key Question: How does your solution validate skills through demonstrable evidence, in real-world contexts, rather than relying solely on proxies or or knowledge-based evaluations?

Please base your rating, explanation, and evidence on the following specific criteria in this category: 

• Performance-Based Evidence: Solutions should reflect credible, performance-based evidence of an individual’s skills, not just theoretical knowledge, showing how well the individual can use their skills in real situations. 
• Industry-Relevant Application: Validation solutions should reflect industry-relevant tasks, expectations, and skills.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Solutions should allow for validation of skills gained outside formal education, where applicable.
• Ongoing Documentation: Solutions should allow for ongoing skills validation, tracking skills over time to capture individuals’ skill development and validation process.

Use the link and/or upload fields below to provide evidence of your solution's alignment to this principle and its criteria. If needed, provide guidance on where reviewers should look within the provided materials to find the desired evidence. 

It's OK to use the same URL/file more than once throughout this submission.

Principle 5: Data, Security, & Integration

Description: Skills validation solutions should be secure, ethical, and interoperable.

Key Question: How have you ensured your solution is secure, ethical, and interoperable?

Please base your rating, explanation, and evidence on the following specific criteria in this category: 

• Interoperability & Integration: Validation solutions should seamlessly integrate with HR platforms, learning management systems (LMS), application tracking systems (ATS), credentialing bodies, and LER technologies.
• Data Ownership & Control: Solutions should empower individuals with full access to their own skills data, along with the ability to share it securely.
• Data Privacy & Security: Data generated by validation solutions must be secure, compliant with regulations (FERPA, GDPR, etc.).

Use the link and/or upload fields below to provide evidence of your solution's alignment to this principle and its criteria. If needed, provide guidance on where reviewers should look within the provided materials to find the desired evidence. 

It's OK to use the same URL/file more than once throughout this submission.

Principle 6: Scalability & Adaptability

Description: Skills validation solutions should be able to grow with demand and adapt to meet changing workforce and educational needs.

Key Question: How have you ensured your solution is able to grow with demand and adapt to meet changing workforce and educational needs?

Please base your rating, explanation, and evidence on the following specific criteria in this category: 

• Sustainable Growth Models: Solutions should be cost-effective and maintain performance at scale.
• Scalable Technical Infrastructure: Platforms should be cloud-based or adaptable to handle increased usage without performance loss.
• Agile Development: Solutions should be iteratively improved based on user feedback and industry needs.
• Future-Proofing & Innovation: Solution providers should explore relevant new technologies (e.g., VR, AI-powered simulations) as they become available, to enhance existing skills validation solutions.

Use the link and/or upload fields below to provide evidence of your solution's alignment to this principle and its criteria. If needed, provide guidance on where reviewers should look within the provided materials to find the desired evidence. 

It's OK to use the same URL/file more than once throughout this submission.

If you have any questions, please contact:

• Tara Laughlin, Education Design Lab (tlaughlin@eddesignlab.org)
• Kathryn Green, Unicon (kgreen@unicon.net) 

Thank you for your submission!