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District approves DreamBox research participation; Gates Foundation subsidy reduces next‑year cost
Summary
Quincy School District staff explained a proposed memorandum of understanding with DreamBox (part of Discovery Education) and a Gates Foundation grant that would let the vendor run student and teacher listening sessions and reduce the district’s license costs next year.
District staff described a proposed memorandum of understanding to let DreamBox’s research team interview students and teachers about motivation and instructional use.
Allison Gately and an instructional coach explained DreamBox is a supplemental, online adaptive math program that complements the district’s core math materials. The district was asked to participate in a Gates Foundation‑funded research study; staff said the study would involve interviews with selected third‑through‑fifth‑grade students and with teachers who use the program regularly.
According to the presentation, the Gates Foundation subsidy would make DreamBox available for third‑through‑fifth graders next year free to the district for that cohort, which staff said would reduce the district’s expected cost by about $16,000 compared with the quoted price for K–2. Staff characterized the district’s participation as a listening and research activity: the vendor “wants to come here and actually speak with our students and our teachers about what motivates them” and will not exclude other students.
Board members asked whether the research would focus on “priority students” and whether incentives would be paid to teachers. Staff said the research targets demographic groups the vendor wants to study and that incentives to teachers would be paid as a pass‑through from the vendor; the district would handle payments but would deduct any legally required benefits from the amount passed through.
The board did not take separate formal action on the research MOU at the meeting; staff said participation saves money relative to the vendor quote and would provide local feedback on product design.
Ending: Staff presented the MOU details and savings estimate and said they would proceed with required school approvals if the board agrees in a future item.
