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APS board approves purchase of IXL and I‑Ready supplemental platforms exceeding $500,000
Summary
The board approved a district purchase exceeding $500,000 to maintain access to supplemental instructional platforms (IXL for grades 6–12 and I‑Ready for K–5 math). Board members asked about screen time limits, usage, ROI and whether funds could be better spent on human supports; administration said funds are restricted for instructional materials and cited prior ROI analysis.
The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education on July 1 approved a district purchase that equals or exceeds $500,000 to secure continued access to supplemental instructional platforms including IXL (grades 6–12 ELA and math) and Curriculum Associates’ I‑Ready (K–5 math).
Chief Financial Officer Roneta Apodaca and district staff explained the purchase would maintain a 'layer‑2' set of supplemental resources that the district uses to support interventions and enrichment. Administration characterized these products as adaptive, evidence‑based platforms with recommended minimum dosages: I‑Ready (elementary math) recommended at roughly 30 minutes per week and IXL (grades 6–12) recommended at a baseline of answering about 15 questions per week.
Board members raised several concerns during discussion. One board member said district quotes had suggested K–5 coverage for IXL, which caused confusion because teachers reported IXL is used primarily for middle and high school. Another board member expressed concern about screen time rules in new state law and asked how the platforms would fit within limits on student screen time. A third member asked whether the money would be better spent on tutors, educational assistants or summer programs rather than on technology. District staff replied the funds for this purchase are restricted for instructional materials and would not be available for staffing or tutoring; they also referenced a fall 2024 'look back' ROI analysis with an external partner (Everest) that found IXL had successful implementation in schools with high usage.
"These are both evidence based platforms that show with the appropriate dosage, it does impact student learning," the administration said, adding that middle schools with higher IXL usage saw increases from mid‑year to end‑of‑year I‑Ready results in some cases.
Courtney Jackson moved to approve the purchase; a second was recorded and the board approved the contract extension. Administration said if the motion had failed, teachers would retain core instructional materials but would lose access to the supplemental platforms until discussions during next year’s math adoption.
What this means: the district will maintain access to IXL and I‑Ready for the coming year while it continues broader curriculum and adoption discussions; staff said the platforms are supplemental to classroom instruction and intended to be used under teacher guidance rather than as replacements for in‑person teaching.
