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Board to consider I‑Ready contract only after legal hold‑harmless language and usage data
Summary
The board discussed I‑Ready amid an ongoing lawsuit over student-data consent; staff proposed tentative approval conditioned on Curriculum Associates agreeing to legal language that holds the district harmless, and asked principals for program-usage and outcome reports before a final vote.
The Pocahontas School Board revisited the district’s use of I‑Ready (Curriculum Associates) after parental concerns surfaced on social media and litigation over vendor consent practices.
District staff summarized the legal background: parents elsewhere have filed suit arguing vendors must obtain consent directly from parents rather than the district providing access. Staff said this is an active legal matter for Curriculum Associates and recommended that the district only move forward if the vendor will agree to contractual language that would hold the district harmless while litigation proceeds.
The board asked for more evidence of instructional benefit before taking final action. Members requested principals provide usage and outcome data showing how many students meet growth goals under I‑Ready and how the program is monitored in classrooms. Staff said teachers use I‑Ready to prescribe targeted lessons, and principals can produce quarterly reports that show completion rates and goal attainment; the board asked for those reports in time for the July meeting so it could consider a final vote.
District counsel candidate (referenced as Rebecca) offered to draft the hold‑harmless language, and staff said the board may give tentative approval conditioned on the vendor accepting that legal language. If Curriculum Associates refuses the legal terms, the district will not sign and will explore non-technology alternatives.
Next steps: district counsel will draft proposed contract language, principals will be asked to present usage and outcome data, and the board will revisit the item at the July meeting.
