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Instructional team recommends IXL after pilot; three-year proposal of $117,470 presented to board
Summary
District instructional staff presented a recommendation to adopt IXL for reading and math benchmarks and progress monitoring after a pilot at multiple campuses; staff proposed a three-year contract with professional development at an estimated $117,470.
District instructional staff presented a recommendation to the Ashland School Board on May 8 to adopt IXL as an assessment and personalized-learning platform following a pilot at several sites.
Why it matters: The district is seeking an assessment product that provides benchmark diagnostics three times per year in math and reading, progress monitoring for interventions, personalized practice paths and accessibility features at a lower cost than the platform the district currently uses.
Pilot and committee process: Michelle Cuddyback led the review and said the district vetted multiple vendors and piloted IXL in the middle school during winter and in a variety of elementary classrooms and intervention settings (Willow Wind, Hellman, Walker, Bellevue and targeted high-school intervention classes). The review committee included building administrators, instructional coaches and teachers across grade bands. The committee used a rubric and vendor demonstrations to evaluate products by criteria such as accessibility, language supports and alignment with standards and curriculum.
Recommendation and costs: Cuddyback said IXL met the district's needs for benchmark assessments, progress monitoring, personalized learning paths and teacher-assignment features at a lower price point. The three-year quote presented to the board, including professional development, was $117,470.
Questions from trustees: Trustees asked about high-school use; Cuddyback said high-school adoption in the pilot was limited to targeted intervention classes and special-education usage rather than full-grade implementation. Trustees asked about student engagement at older grades compared with prior products; staff said the pilot focused on intervention and that implementation planning would consider engagement strategies for secondary students.
Next steps: The item was on the agenda as an action item. The transcript cuts off before a final board vote is recorded in the meeting minutes included here. Staff said they would return with implementation plans and professional development details if the board approves a purchase.
Numbers: Committee piloted IXL at multiple sites; three-year price with PD $117,470 (quote presented to board).
