Board approves Goalbook Toolkit subscription for special-education teachers to support IEP quality and retention
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Summary
The board approved a one-year, $90,000 subscription to the Goalbook Toolkit to help special-education staff write measurable IEP goals, progress-monitor and tie instruction to standards; staff called it an 'effort multiplier' especially for beginning teachers and proposed piloting the purchase this year.
The Moore County Board of Education voted June 30 to purchase a one-year subscription to the Goalbook Toolkit, a web-based platform district staff said will help special-education teachers write measurable IEPs, align goals to standards and monitor student progress.
Neil Waters, who presented the proposal, called Goalbook an “effort multiplier” that centralizes curriculum-aligned resources, goal banks and progress-monitoring tools. Waters said the platform will be offered to the district’s licensed special-education providers (about 160 users) and that the vendor will provide two half-day trainings in August plus monthly check-ins.
The one-year cost presented to the board was $89,999. Waters and Jamie Simon said the district sought grant funding in the digital-learning initiative application that could cover multiple years; if the pilot proves useful, the district would explore multi-year pricing and rollout.
Board members asked about professional development, retention and evaluation plans. Waters and Simon said the vendor offers a help desk and that district staff will monitor usage, run soft audits and survey teachers midyear and at year-end to measure retention and implementation. Board member Ken Benway asked for a demonstration for the full board after users have initial experience; Simon agreed to provide training and follow-up reports.
The board approved the subscription; staff framed the purchase as targeted support for special-education instruction, IEP quality and teacher efficiency, particularly for early-career teachers and residency participants.
