Approve Agreement for Technical Services with SyLNX, Inc. for the Development of National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) Database Management Services, Visually Impaired Grant - $75,000 (Curriculum and Instruction Division, Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired - FIMC-VI)

We request approval of the Agreement for Technical Services with SyLNX, Inc., to develop and maintain a new database management system for FIMC-VI to manage the circulation of academic materials in specialized formats to students with print disabilities enrolled in Florida’s school districts statewide.

FIMC-VI is funded by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), with the District serving as the fiscal agent. As a result of the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004, which required states to comply with NIMAS, FDOE recently assigned FIMC-VI the role of serving as Florida’s single Authorized User. After the textbook publishers place electronic files at NIMAS, FIMC-VI downloads electronic publisher files, converts the files into the format needed by the student with print disabilities, and forwards the state-adopted textbook to the District. Since data collection is a component of this Act, FDOE requests the creation of a database designed to monitor the timely delivery of these instructional materials.

Through this agreement, SyLNX, Inc. will provide monthly support for the NIMAS website/online ordering, student registration capabilities, software application system enhancement, requested modifications to report format(s), and daily data backup.

Goal 1 – The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points.

Funds of $75,000 are included in the divisional special revenue/federal programs budget (Project 1517) FIMC-VI.