Agenda Item
f. Canvas Learning Management System Approval (Not to exceed $815,250)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, 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 $815,250.
Why: The purpose of the agenda item is to request to purchase an annual subscription to Canvas Instructure. This is year five 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.
Financial impact: $ 815,250.00
General Fund
100.1000.561200.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: June 2025
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Chronology of Canvas Learning Management System
The DeKalb County School District is committed to providing an equitable,
accessible, and secure Empowered Digital Learning Environment supported
by innovative technology that encourages all students to be active, creative,
knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally connected society. A
learning management system (LMS) is a foundational component of a digital
learning environment as it provides the digital framework to share and
deliver content, connect students and teachers in a digital space, and track
student progress.
It is a best practice for a school district to select one district-adopted LMS to
ensure a streamlined experience that includes tool consistency and reduced
user complexity. A district-adopted LMS also centralizes communication and
collaboration and standardizes data collection and analysis. In addition,
having one LMS platform simplifies training and support for teachers and
staff, reducing overall costs.
Canvas was selected by qualified professional instructional staff and students
based on pedagogical judgment and district requirements during the Spring
Semester 2021.
2021-22: Technical Implementation & Teacher Training (Year 1)
● The first year was used to transition from the existing LMS
(itslearning/VERGE) to Canvas
● Key activities were to convert and migrate data to set up users,
courses, and key content in Canvas and awareness training for
teachers
● The district’s curriculum was also transferred from itslearning/VERGE
to Canvas
2022-23: Full Adoption (Year 2)
● The second year was focused on full adoption of Canvas with both
teachers and students
● Course integration, grade pass back to Infinite Campus, cross listing of
courses, and content availability was a major focus during year two
● Title IX District Mandates, Student Code of Conduct, and the Digital
Dreamers Hub for students were also launched in Canvas
● The district introduced the Canvas Parent App
2023-24 Full Adoption (Year 3)
● Continued to enhance teacher and student support from previous year
(e.g. Canvas Summer Splash, FUSE Cohort, Hack-A-Thon Student-led
evaluation)
● Expanded key functionality (course cross listing) to all schools,
simplifying the grading and collaboration among multiple courses for
teachers
● Added access to digital textbooks and other approved digital resources
for teachers and students
● Established professional learning communities (Leader Labs) for school
leaders and academic coaches to expand support for teacher and
student use
● Utilized Tech Cafe events to provide exposure to Canvas for parents
and caregivers
2024-25 Full Adoption (Year 4)- What has been accomplished this
year?
● Expanded its application across various district functions, from HR and
professional development (Human Resources Course, TAPP Course) to
student skills development (Success Skills for Success Backpack) and
enhanced curriculum sharing (Curriculum Community 2.0 project).
● Enhanced the learning environment by providing more accessibility to
the district’s digital resources, promoting digital literacy, and
supporting a more integrated approach to teaching and learning
through LTI integrations. (Digital Citizenship and AI Awareness Course)
● Developed a more streamlined and efficient digital ecosystem through
the use of Canvas for essential district operations, communication, and
training.
Financial Impact:
Year Cost
2021-22 Technical Implementation & Training $516,800
2022-23 Full Adoption $926,220
2023-24 Full Adoption $978,630
2024-25 Full Adoption $715,310
2025-26 Full Adoption $XXX requested