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District to pilot state Firefly benchmark tool; administrators seek approval for Amplify purchases and to investigate new math curriculum
Summary
Administrators proposed a pilot of the state Firefly adaptive benchmark tool (no district cost), requested about $8,000 in special‑education Amplify CKLA materials/licenses and presented a plan to extend Amplify ELA to grades 7–8 (approx. $41,000); teachers also urged investigation of Innovamat math strategies.
District administrators told the education committee they will pilot Firefly, a Pennsylvania Department of Education computer‑adaptive assessment aligned to PSSA/Keystone standards, in a small middle‑school intervention cohort and potentially in high‑school Algebra I for formative feedback. Administration said Firefly is free and uses an existing state testing platform.
The committee also considered a targeted Amplify CKLA purchase to supply special‑education classrooms that currently borrow materials; administration estimated a near‑term one‑time materials cost of about $8,000 (with recurring annual license costs similar to other student licenses) and asked to place the purchase on the Monday board agenda for a vote.
Separately, administrators proposed extending the Amplify ELA continuum into seventh and eighth grades so the district would have a K–8 scope and sequence; the 7th/8th grade materials and professional development were estimated at roughly $17,000 per grade (about $41,000 total). Administration requested board agreement to move the item to the next board meeting for a formal decision.
Teachers and department leads described Innovamat workshops (a hands‑on, inquiry‑based approach) and recommended the administration investigate math curriculum alternatives and return with timeline and cost options. Administration said the proposal fits the district’s curriculum cycle and that a team would be assembled to evaluate math program options and budget implications.
Board members asked about recurring costs and how purchases would be funded; administration said costs would come from the director of educational technology, curriculum and instruction budget and emphasized that the Amplify purchases and pilots are intended to give teachers actionable data and continuity across grade levels.
