Title and Board Action Requested
title
Approve the Renewal of Canvas-Instructure District License for Grades 3-12 and Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order in an Estimated Amount of $165,930.00
body
Executive Summary
The Supervisor of Instructional Technology, on behalf of the Superintendent of Schools, hereby requests the Board to approve the renewal of Canvas-Instructure District License for Grades 3-12. This investment aims to maintain a dedicated Learning Management System (LMS) for all content areas within our district as well as a learning platform for Hernando eSchool courses.
Canvas LMS is a web-based learning management system designed to enhance educational experiences by providing a versatile platform for managing course materials, assignments, and communication. While Canvas facilitates online learning, it does not mean students are on computers all day. Instead, Canvas supports a blended learning approach, is designed to support diverse teaching strategies, ensuring that learning can happen both online and offline, enhancing overall educational outcomes.
The ongoing implementation of Canvas-LMS ensures that students benefit from seamless access to learning resources, maintaining instructional continuity regardless of their location. They will have the capability to submit various types of assignments and receive timely feedback from teachers, thereby enhancing the teaching and learning experience.
Furthermore, teachers will maintain access to advanced tools such as “SpeedGrader” for efficient grading and feedback, grade “passback” to Skyward, and robust analytics tools to pinpoint areas of concernt.By centralizing curriculum and resources, Canvas-LMS integrates publisher online offerings and other district-adopted instructional technology applications, including Wayground, Canva for Education, eDynamic Learning, Savvas, McGraw Hill, Big Ideas, and Microsoft 365, simplifying student access to educational materials. The implementation of Canvas-LMS also strengthens the K-20 educational continuum. As the preferred learning management system in higher education, it creates a familiar and consistent learning environment for students transitioning from K-12.
In addition, our virtual school continues to use Canvas as its primary learning management system (LMS), serving as a centralized online hub where students, teachers, and families can access coursework, communication, and academic progress. For students, Canvas provides an organized space to view assignments and due dates through weekly modules or calendars, submit work in a variety of formats (such as documents, videos, quizzes, and discussions), and participate in live classes through integrated tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Students can also check grades, review teacher feedback, communicate directly with instructors, engage in discussions, and access a wide range of learning materials including notes, presentations, videos, and external resources.
For teachers, Canvas supports course design and delivery by allowing them to organize content by week, unit, or subject, post announcements, create assessments, and provide timely feedback on student work. It also enables teachers to track student participation and academic progress while facilitating virtual lessons and discussions. Additionally, parents and guardians can stay informed through observer accounts, which provide visibility into assignments, grades, upcoming deadlines, announcements, attendance, and overall student progress - helping to strengthen the home-school connection and support student success.
Beyond classroom use, Canvas-LMS is utilized by various departments such as Professional Learning, District Media, and Instructional Technology to facilitate professional learning and ensure compliance with employee requirements throughout the district. Moreover, it enhances educational transparency by allowing parents to access not only their students’ scores on submitted assignments but also the actual submissions and teacher feedback, enabling them to monitor their children’s academic progress effectively.
The proposed one-year District License comes at a cost of $165,930.00 with Hernando eSchool contributing $41,710.00 for eSchool-specific student (3-12) and district-wide staff access. Technology Millage depends on the continued collection of this revenue stream. In the event of changes or discontinuation of the Millage, alternative funding avenues will be explored.
This continued investment in Canvas-LMS represents a comprehensive solution to enhance teaching and learning outcomes across our district, fostering a more streamlined and effective educational experience for all stakeholders. A comprehensive Usage Report is included with thi renewal proposal.
My Contact
Jesse Diaz
Supervisor of Instructional Technology
352-797-7000 ext. 70150
diaz_j@hcsb.k12.fl.us
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.
title
body