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District seeks $425,060 for Summer Learning Academy supply kits; staff says curriculum mirrors school year materials
Summary
Memphis Shelby County Schools recommended a $425,060 purchase from Knowledge Tree for teacher and student supply kits for the 2025 Summer Learning Academy to serve roughly 9,000 students. District staff said the purchase covers consumable supplies and complements, but does not replace, the district curriculum used during the regular year.
The district recommended that the Board approve a $425,060.60 purchase order to Knowledge Tree to provide customized supply kits for the 2025 Summer Learning Academy (SLA), which staff said is planned to serve about 9,000 students and 600 teachers from June 2 through June 30.
Angela Whitelaw, who presented the item for Education Services, said the kits include grade‑customized teacher supplies—pencils, paper, crayons, notebooks, markers, chart paper and other classroom consumables—and are intended to support remediation and enrichment in reading and math as well as arts and physical education. "It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approve the purchase of supplies from Knowledge Tree in the amount of $425,060.60 for the 2025 Summer Learning Academy," Whitelaw said.
Whitelaw and other staff explained that Knowledge Tree is being used under a piggyback agreement because it can deliver large bundled supply packages quickly and has delivered for SLA in recent years. Procurement staff noted that a piggyback purchase is being used for timing and logistical reasons rather than as a new curriculum selection.
Board members pressed staff on curriculum and measurement. Committee members were told the SLA uses the district's regular curricula (for example, Wonders for ELA and the selected adopted math materials) and focuses on concentrated small‑group instruction, novel studies, and intervention aligned to the grade‑level standards. Students' spring TCAP/diagnostic results are used to prioritize third‑grade students mandated under Tennessee law; the state provides a post‑summer assessment for SLA program evaluation.
Staff said the SLA historically reduces the "summer slide" and that prior SLA participants showed higher average gains on interim assessments. Registration will open after spring break; staff said principals were surveyed in December to identify host sites and that the district will prioritize tier‑2 and tier‑3 students while also offering open enrollment to others.
No final board vote was recorded in committee; staff recommended the purchase and said they will provide additional details on site lists and curriculum alignment at the next board packet.
