Upper Darby SD to pilot LinkIt student‑data platform Feb–May; small annual cost increase expected
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Summary
Dr. Kelly asked the Education & People Services Committee to approve a February–May pilot of LinkIt, a student‑data platform that integrates assessments, MTSS supports, and dashboards; staff said training would be roughly one day and annual costs could rise about $10,000–$15,000, with a purchase decision tied to the district's May budget review.
At the Education & People Services Committee meeting immediately following the finance session, Dr. Kelly presented a request to pilot LinkIt, a student‑data platform the district would use for data warehousing, assessments, analytics and MTSS supports.
Dr. Kelly said LinkIt would integrate with the district's student information system (eSchool) and provide customizable dashboards, drill‑downs to individual students and tools to align MTSS tiers. She said the district has been evaluating several vendors; LinkIt can run a pilot with district data so administrators and teachers can test dashboards and practical workflows. "If the pilot is approved by the school board, our work would begin right away after the February board meeting," Dr. Kelly said.
On cost, Dr. Kelly estimated an ongoing annual increase of approximately $10,000 to $15,000 and noted there is typically an upfront first‑year implementation cost as well. She said vendor training would be a one‑day session and that she hoped the pilot would end in May so she could return to the committee with a purchase recommendation timed to the 2026–27 budget process.
Committee members asked whether LinkIt could surface attendance data; Dr. Kelly said it would via the eSchool integration. Members asked about comparing multiple vendors; Dr. Kelly said demo and sandbox accounts were scheduled for follow‑up demonstrations.
The committee indicated it was comfortable moving the LinkIt pilot and three revised policies (updated primarily via PSBA model language) to the February full board meeting for formal action.
Next steps: staff will seek board approval in February to begin a pilot that would run through May, with a staff recommendation to follow before the budget adoption cycle.