Approve Purchase of Renewal of District License for the istation Reading Intervention Program (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

Approval is requested for purchase of the istation Reading Intervention Program, which is a web-based curriculum that will impact all kindergarten through third grade students achieving less than adequate yearly progress (AYP) or performing below grade level in reading in 144 elementary schools. This is the sole source provider of this intervention program.

The istation Program consists of four online components designed to facilitate data-informed decisions by the teacher: 1) automated online student progress monitoring, 2) small group lessons that link the online curriculum to classroom instruction, 3) differentiated instruction that integrates subject area content with strategic reading skills, and 4) computer-generated, real time, data reports that provide the district, school, and teacher with individualized student data reflecting reading progress. This purchase will provide all elementary schools with unlimited access to the online program, teacher professional development, and technology support services and will recur annually.

Student data will be housed on istation servers and a hosting agreement has been signed by the vendor ensuring that all data is secure, backed-up, and meets the specific requirements of The School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida.

* Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum

Funds of $575,000 are available from the K-12 Comprehensive Reading Plan (Project 4526)

Success will be measured through statistical data retrieved from the istation Program to include usage data and student progress toward benchmark goals in reading.