Title and Board Action Requested
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Approve the Renewal and Purchase of Services from Teaching Strategies, LLC and Issuance of a Purchase Order for the Creative Curriculum Cloud and GOLD Assessment System for an estimated spending of $157,893.75 for a 5-Year Term
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Executive Summary
The Director of Exceptional Student Education, on behalf of the Superintendent of Schools, hereby requests the Board to approve the renewal and purchase of services from Teaching Strategies, LLC for ELA instructional materials and a progress monitoring tool to support Exceptional Student Education Prekindergarten (ESE PreK) classrooms (approximately 31 classrooms district-wide).
In accordance with federal requirements for Child Outcomes Summary (COS) reporting under Indicator 7, districts are required to utilize an approved progress monitoring system to document student growth and outcomes. As outlined in the attached memo, one of three Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)-approved tools must be selected for this purpose. The district previously selected and continues to utilize GOLD® (Gold Standard) as its progress monitoring system due to its alignment with early childhood best practices and federal reporting requirements.
The GOLD® Online Assessment system provides an authentic, observation-based approach to monitoring student progress across developmental domains. It enables educators to collect, analyze, and use data to inform instruction and complete required COS exit reporting efficiently and accurately.
Additionally, the district seeks to renew access to the Creative Curriculum® Cloud, a comprehensive, research-based ELA instructional resource designed specifically for early childhood learners. The Creative Curriculum® supports developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned instruction and includes embedded differentiation strategies to meet the diverse needs of ESE PreK students.
Both GOLD® and Creative Curriculum® are provided exclusively by Teaching Strategies, LLC and are included on the FLDOE-approved list. GOLD® remains a sole source provider for this specific assessment system.
The proposed renewal includes 425 GOLD® Online Assessment Portfolios, 4,250 GOLD® Archives (no additional cost), and 31 Creative Curriculum® Cloud subscriptions. The total cost for the 5-year term is $157,893.75, with an option for annual payments or a one-time payment. This renewal secures continued access to essential instructional and assessment tools while maintaining pricing stability over the duration of the agreement.
Approval of this request will ensure continuity of services, compliance with federal and state requirements, and ongoing support for high-quality instruction and progress monitoring for ESE PreK students across the district.
My Contact
Anna Jensen, Director, Exceptional Student Education
352-797-7022, ext. 70485
2023-28 Strategic Focus Area
Priority 1: Student Success
Financial Impact
See attached budget sheet.
If expenditure is not currently budgeted, this will serve as the budget amendment when Board approved. If the agenda item includes the purchase of goods or services, the funds requested are an anticipated amount and may fluctuate depending on such factors as current market conditions, product availability, additional funding sources, and the needs of the District. Should the actual cost exceed the anticipated amount, the Board approves the additional cost, after review by the superintendent, but not in excess of the funds available in the site’s approved annual budget.