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Education department seeks one‑year amendment for Odyssey platform; lawmakers ask for procurement review and outcome data
Summary
State Superintendent Cade Bromley asked the committee to approve a one‑year amendment to the contract with Odyssey (Primary Class) to continue administration of the Louisiana Gator program at $143.50 per account; lawmakers pressed for academic outcome data, procurement options (RFP) and clarity on the 'up to' contract amount.
The Department of Education presented a request to amend the contract with Odyssey (doing business as Primary Class) to continue supporting the Louisiana Gator enrollment and management platform for another year. State Superintendent Cade Bromley said the unit price is $143.50 per account and that the administration used the governor's executive budget projection (roughly $88,000,000) to calculate an 'up to' contract amount tied to an estimated student count (about 12,000 students based on the executive budget figure).
Members raised procurement questions and price comparisons. President Henry and other members noted that similar implementations elsewhere (Missouri was cited) reported per‑account costs near $100 and asked whether an RFP could secure a better price going forward. Bromley said the one‑time build‑out costs included in the initial contract have passed and that current charges reflect per‑account project management; he added the department lacks in‑house capacity to perform the work and previously budgeted minimal staff because the private sector could execute more efficiently.
Lawmakers also asked about academic outcomes and reporting timelines. Bromley said all students in the Gator program would take nationally normed assessments this spring and that the department expects to provide a report to the committee with baseline academic data following that testing cycle. Committee members asked the department to start procurement planning if a future RFP could produce cost savings.
Bessie's (BESSE/BSEE as referenced) approval was described in the record as unanimous at the department level; the committee followed its timeline practice of reviewing the item and, given session timing, planned to consider approval at its next meeting to ensure continuous administration beyond June if necessary. The committee discussed but did not take a final approval vote on a contract amendment at this session.
What happens next: The department will provide academic outcome data after spring testing and, per members' requests, begin planning for a possible RFP to test whether a lower per‑account cost is achievable.
