B6.08 - Approve the Purchase of World of Wonders (WoW) Curriculum, McGraw-Hill School Education, LLC for the Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten Exceptional Education Preschool Services (PEEPS), and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program (VPK) for the 2020/2021 School Year (Climate and Culture)

WoW is a comprehensive curriculum published by McGraw-Hill in 2016. It builds a strong foundation for early literacy and provides developmentally appropriate instruction for early learners including cross-curricular activities, a focus on social emotional development, and preparation for kindergarten and beyond. Included in the curriculum is phonological awareness (alphabet and print knowledge), letters and sound recognition, concepts of print awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension. 

The WoW curriculum includes a user-friendly digital platform where books and materials can be accessed virtually. Teachers have the option to build their weekly lesson plans by assigning interactive activities based on student needs and standards using a drop-add skill/strategy/materials system. The digital access is an integral part of the curriculum that can be used at school and home.

The WoW curriculum was reviewed and approved through the VPK Curriculum Approval Process (6M-8.604, Florida Administrative Rule) in 2018. WoW met the criteria for all Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for the delivery of instruction for three and four-year-old students in a variety of settings such as whole group, small group, guided group, student center activities, and individualized instruction. WoW was determined to be a suitable, usable, and desirable comprehensive curriculum.

WoW will also provide tiered levels of professional training support such as face-to-face and web-based trainings to assist in the implementation of this curriculum. 

This purchase is for 303 classrooms (73 Head Start classrooms,122 VPK classrooms, and 108 PEEPS classrooms) which will impact approximately 4,000-5,000 students.

In accordance with the Florida Department of Education Purchasing Policy 6A-1.012(11)(b), the requirement for requesting competitive solicitations for commodities or contractual services from three or more sources is hereby waived as authorized by Section 1010.04(4)(a), F.S., for the purchase of educational services and any type of copyrighted materials including, without limitation, educational tests, textbooks, and printed instructional materials where such materials are purchased directly from the producer, publisher, or the owner of the copyright.

Currently there are four different curriculums being used in our Early Childhood classrooms. Purchasing a new curriculum for all Early Childhood programs will provide continuity, as well as better prepare our students for kindergarten. 

Nineteen HCPS Head Start classrooms had the opportunity to implement the WoW curriculum during the 2019/2020 school year. Students demonstrated consistent improvement as measured by the STAR Early Literacy Assessment (see attached data).

Teachers will have a common curriculum that is aligned to the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards. This curriculum will provide teachers with the appropriate level of instruction for our Pre-Kindergarten students. Teachers will be provided professional development on the appropriate use of this new curriculum in order to achieve successful implementation. It is expected that student proficiency will increase on all Pre-Kindergarten measures (STAR Early Literacy Assessment, VPK, and Teaching Strategies Gold) as well as Kindergarten Readiness Rates. 

* Improve Student Achievement

* Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child

Approve the purchase of WoW curriculum for our Early Childhood programs for the 2020/2021 school year. 

Louis Murphy, Director, Early Childhood and After School Programs, louish.murphy@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 272-4461
Tracye H. Brown, Chief of Climate and Culture, tracye.brown@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 272-4879

The total cost of this curriculum is $957,683.01 ($2,999.00 per unit). This amount include shipping cost.