diff --git a/main/settings_test.py b/main/settings_test.py
index a0cb955199..2cfdf042ce 100644
--- a/main/settings_test.py
+++ b/main/settings_test.py
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 """
 
 import importlib
+import re
 import sys
+import tomllib
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
-import semantic_version
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core import mail
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
@@ -162,12 +163,17 @@ def test_opensearch_index_pr_build(self):
             settings_vars = self.reload_settings()
             assert settings_vars["OPENSEARCH_INDEX"] == index_name
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def test_semantic_version():
-        """
-        Verify that we have a semantic compatible version.
-        """
-        semantic_version.Version(settings.VERSION)
+    def test_bump_my_version_format(self):
+        """Verify VERSION is in sync with pyproject.toml and matches a version format."""
+        with open("pyproject.toml", "rb") as f:  # noqa: PTH123
+            pyproject = tomllib.load(f)
+        version_pattern = pyproject["tool"]["bumpversion"]["parse"]
+        package_version = pyproject["project"]["version"]
+        assert package_version == settings.VERSION
+        semver_pattern = r"[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+"
+        assert re.fullmatch(version_pattern, settings.VERSION) or re.fullmatch(
+            semver_pattern, settings.VERSION
+        ), f'VERSION "{settings.VERSION}" does not match calver or semver format'
 
     def test_required_settings(self):
         """
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4f6bcec3e9..7c28488e0c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "mit-learn"
-version = "0.71.0"
+version = "0.70.10"
 description = "Search index for use with other MIT applications."
 authors = [{ name = "MIT ODL" }]
 requires-python = ">=3.12,<3.13"
@@ -263,3 +263,36 @@ inline-quotes = "double"
 "*_test.py" = ["ARG001", "E501", "S101", "PLR2004"]
 "test_*.py" = ["ARG001", "E501", "S101", "PLR2004"]
 "**/migrations/**" = ["ARG001"]
+
+[tool.bumpversion]
+commit = false
+tag = false
+parse = "(?P<release>(?:[1-9][0-9]{3})\\.(?:1[0-2]|[1-9])\\.(?:3[0-1]|[12][0-9]|[1-9]))\\.(?P<build>\\d+)"
+serialize = ["{release}.{build}"]
+
+[tool.bumpversion.parts.release]
+calver_format = "{YYYY}.{MM}.{DD}"
+
+[tool.bumpversion.parts.build]
+first_value = "1"
+
+[[tool.bumpversion.files]]
+filename = "main/settings.py"
+search = 'VERSION = "{current_version}"'
+replace = 'VERSION = "{new_version}"'
+
+[[tool.bumpversion.files]]
+filename = "pyproject.toml"
+search = 'version = "{current_version}"'
+replace = 'version = "{new_version}"'
+
+[[tool.bumpversion.files]]
+filename = "uv.lock"
+search = """
+name = "mit-learn"
+version = "{current_version}"
+source = {{ virtual = "." }}"""
+replace = """
+name = "mit-learn"
+version = "{new_version}"
+source = {{ virtual = "." }}"""
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index f40be07155..f9d62dacb3 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -2484,7 +2484,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mit-learn"
-version = "0.71.0"
+version = "0.70.10"
 source = { virtual = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "attrs" },