Teaching and Learning Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, July 17, 2018
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Purchase of CommonLit (Sole-Source Provider) for Reading Interim Assessments and Data Dashboard for Grades 6-12 (Office of Teaching and Learning)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CommonLit will deliver four quarterly interim English Language Arts assessments for grades 6-12, which will be administered to students enrolled in a reading course (approximately 37,700 students). Each grade-level specific assessment is composed of one literary passage and one informational text set with Florida Standards Assessment aligned questions and a text-based written response prompt. These assessments will provide common data that will allow school sites and individual classroom teachers to differentiate instruction based on the individual student's needs.  The Dashboard will provide access to an online formative data-tracking platform that will allow administrators to visualize and interpret student performance aligned to the Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS) by school, teacher, class, and individual student, and will breakdown the student performance by LAFS standard performance.  This purchase includes web-based professional development for teachers, site-based and district administrators; along with quarterly data review sessions between CommonLit and district administrators to identify data trends, areas for growth, and additional strategies to support teachers in meeting student needs.  In accordance with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Purchasing Policy 6A-1.012(12)(d), commodities or contractual services available only from a single source may be exempted from the competitive solicitation requirements.  When a district school board believes that commodities or contractual services are available only from a single source as specified by the FLDOE, the district school board may negotiate on the best terms and conditions with the single source vendor.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $251,400 will be available in the K-12 Comprehensive Research-Based Reading Plan budget, Project 4526.  As of June 25, 2018, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $9,409,814.  This contract will be for seven one-year terms and may be terminated upon 30-days' written notice.  The prices are fixed for the entire term.  The Superintendent may renew this contract per the terms of the specifications.
EVALUATION
The student impact from the program usage will be progress monitored through the program’s quarterly online assessments, the district’s formative and progress monitoring assessments, and by reviewing student outcome data at the end of the 2018/2019 school year.
SUBMITTED BY:  Leslie Granich, Instructional Leadership Director, Secondary Education

Deborah Cook		Gretchen Saunders
Chief Academic Officer, Teaching and Learning (813) 272-4221		Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270
		C 6.16
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20180717_892 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.16