Agenda Item
b. Canvas Learning Management System Approval (Not to exceed $715,310) ~ Updated 6.10.2024
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Monika Davis, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of Canvas Learning Management System with Instructure, Incorporated at a cost not to exceed $715,310.
Why: The purpose of the agenda item is to request to purchase an annual subscription to Canvas Instructure. This is year two of a five-year agreement.
Details: DeKalb County School District is committed to providing equitable access and instructional continuity through the implementation of Canvas as its learning management system.
This instructional tool will allow the district to:
support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.
support access to and utilization of the District's Board-approved curriculum.
deliver professional learning for all staff members.
facilitate and collect student assignments and assessments.
integrate seamlessly with legacy systems such as Infinite Campus, Microsoft Office products, Google Apps for Education, and many other tools utilized by the district.
Analyze engagement data using many reports and analytics.
promote parental engagement through the parent portal feature.
The district's learning management system is a critical legacy system that requires a significant implementation period with ongoing compatibility and standardization with other systems and district processes. Canvas replaced the district's former learning management system (LMS), itsLearning, also referred to as VERGE, during the 2022-2023 school year.
Evaluation and Selection
Canvas was selected by qualified professional instructional staff and students based on sound pedagogical judgment and the district's best interest during the Spring Semester of the 2020 - 2021 school year. The Division of Information and Instructional Technology used the 2021-2022 school year to tend to the following tasks for transition and the preparation of district adoption of Canvas:
Phase I: Authentication The district worked with application development to develop the basic account structure and functions for users. This phase included determining roles, login procedures for students and teachers.
Phase II: Data Provisioning The provisioning process required the district to determine how to connect Canvas to Infinite Campus to add student information data to the Canvas account. This process also allowed for the setting up of the grade pass back feature between Canvas and Infinite Campus, our student information system.
Phase III: DCSD (DeKalb County School District) Branding The setup of Canvas required the district to personalize Canvas with branding, features, and applications. During this process, the district collaborated with Canvas, Microsoft, Apex, BrainPOP, and other applications to create a learning experience that works all within the DCSD ecosystem.
Phase IV: Onboarding and Launching The systemic adoption required the district to communicate the implementation plan to the district leaders, principals, and all local school instructional staff. Once this information was communicated, Instructional Technology developed courses and training resources to support school-based training for Digital Learning Teams, focusing, transitioning, and implementing Canvas with teachers. This also provided an opportunity to engage school-based stakeholders.
Pursuant to Board of Education Policy DJE, the purchase of Canvas does not require a competitive bid because it meets the policy definition of a single source. Canvas also meets the definition of "instructional software" as outlined in board policy.
Financial impact: $715,310.
General Fund
100.1000.561200.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Ms. Monika Davis, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: June 2024
Status: Approved by General Counsel
Canvas by Instructure Subscriptions & Services (Year 4)
Please note: This section includes confidential information about pricing. All prices are listed in US Dollars (USD).
Prices available for new subscriptions only. Our pricing model is based on a one-time implementation fee and on
subscription fees calculated by multiplying the number of users by an annual per-user subscription fee. User means a
student, teacher, or administrator of Customer who is authorized to use the Service with an assigned login credential.
Product or
Description Quantity Cost
Service
K-12 Canvas User Metric reflects the maximum number of
Subscription Fee individuals authorized by the Customer to access 116,000 @
$319,000.00
(Students, and/or use the Service and Customer has paid for $2.75
Teachers, Admin) such access and/or use.
24/7 Tier 1 support. Teachers and admins have
24/7 Tier 1 Annual per
access to phone/chat Canvas support directly $95,700.00
Support year
24x7x365.
Unlimited access to core and advanced on-demand
Canvas Premium training content for teachers and admins and Annual per
$20,000.00
Training Portal unlimited access to instructor-led online training year
through the Training Portal.
Impact by Instructure helps districts and schools
improve tool adoption within Canvas and evaluate
the impact of these educational technology tools on
student engagement and outcomes. Insightful
dashboards and dynamic reporting provide a birds
eye view of how well students and teachers are 116,000 @
Impact $12,760.00
engaging with available edtech tools. Customized in- $.11
app messaging provides key insights about optimal
platform use while in-context support channels
empower teachers and students to focus more on
teaching and learning, and less on traversing new
technologies.
Teachers and staff can create and deliver interactive
Canvas Studio video. Students can produce and submit their own
116,000 @
Cloud video creations in Studio, and can easily collaborate $11,600.00
$.10
Subscription and comment on each other’s work. Teachers can
create quizzes on top of video content and see
Provides access to the entire course template library
Course Template
application for all teachers and staff
Library Annual $20,000.00
Subscription
Dedicated Canvas Dedicated Instructure employee working full time in
Annual $236,250.00
Consultant DeKalb County Schools.
Year 4 Total: $715,310.00