District seeks renewal of instructional software subscriptions over $50,000; trustees ask for ROI data

Cedar Hill ISD staff presented a set of instructional technology and assessment renewals July 21 and requested board approval for purchases or renewals that exceed the district’s $50,000 policy threshold. The package included programs used for assessment, personalized learning and college-readiness: Exact Path, MAP (NWEA), Study Island, College Board assessments and several other digital products for language and test-prep support.

Presenters said Exact Path will provide individualized learning paths, MAP will continue to supply growth-measure assessments, and Study Island will give teachers a differentiated practice tool. District staff also proposed a digital language resource (SAVAS) to support upper-level AP Spanish and AP French classes that the district said it did not previously have. Staff noted that some vendor contracts are split across product lines (Amplify/M Class) and therefore the total vendor exposure may exceed $50,000 even if a single line-item is below that amount.

Trustees asked for stronger evidence of usage and impact before committing district funds. Questions focused on who uses each product, current adoption levels at campuses, how the products align to district goals and whether local Title funding or federal grant dollars support the contracts. Trustees requested quantitative usage and student-growth data tying the products to district progress measures; they also asked that parents be able to see how and when students should use the programs.

The presentations were included in the consent agenda later in the meeting; trustees requested follow-up reporting showing platform usage, fidelity of implementation and how each tool contributes to the district’s academic goals.