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Fountain Hills board adopts Defined Learning and Edgenuity after debate over costs and teacher roles
Summary
The board adopted Defined Learning (project-based learning resources) and Edgenuity (online courses for grades 6–12) with 4–1 votes after members debated overlap, costs and whether funds should instead increase teacher pay.
The Fountain Hills Unified School District board narrowly approved two supplemental adoptions intended to expand project-based learning and online course offerings.
Defined Learning, a project-based resource the district will use in elementary classrooms to support hands-on projects and the district’s “Portrait of a Graduate,” passed on a 4–1 vote. Board discussion focused on how the platform supplements teacher planning and whether the materials would reduce screen time by providing structured, offline projects.
Edgenuity — an online course provider the district plans to use in grades 6–12 for credit recovery and to replace the district’s PLP virtual program — also passed 4–1. Administration described Edgenuity as a more rigorous virtual option than the district’s prior PLP arrangement and said the district followed an adoption process that included review committees and rubrics.
Several board members questioned why the district would contract with two external platforms that both present themselves as project-based or K–12 resources. Board member Madison emphasized caution about vendor selection and asked for clearer cost figures before voting; administration said cost quotes are on file and estimated both programs would be below $20,000 annually, with some first-year setup costs for implementation.
Supporters said the platforms give teachers ready-made, standards-aligned resources and free teacher time otherwise spent inventing materials. Opponents argued district teachers already perform project-based instruction and that funds might be better directed to teacher pay. Administration said Defined Learning is a teacher resource (hundreds of ready-to-use project units) while Edgenuity provides credit-bearing online courses.
Both adoptions carry implementation steps: staff will finish integration, report back on costs and usage, and principals will oversee student placement and approvals for online learning. The board recorded adoption votes and set the programs to begin according to the district’s implementation schedule.
