Agenda Item
g. Purchase of Amira Tutor, Supplemental High-Dosage Tutoring (Not to exceed $600,000)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum and Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of Amira Tutor, a high-dosage, research-based tutoring program to support foundational reading skills, fluency, and reading comprehension development in kindergarten through third grade, in an amount not to exceed $600,000.
Why: The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) administers the Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) three times per year. The 2025 spring MAP Fluency data results in the areas of phonics and word recognition are as follows:
Phonics and Word Recognition
Grade
Below Expectation
Approaching Expectation
Meets Expectation
Exceeds Expectation
Kindergarten
27%
16%
25%
32%
First
52%
46%
2%
0%
Second
96%
0%
4%
0%
Third
95%
0%
5%
0%
Amira ISIP is the Georgia Department of Education’s approved reading and dyslexia screener provided to local school districts at no cost. The District is seeking to adopt and purchase Amira Tutor, a supplemental tutoring program that algins directly to the Amira Assess. Amira Tutor will provide high-dosage, evidence-based, AI-guided, 1:1 tutoring to support teaching and learning. Real-time micro interventions are individualized and use research-based techniques and explicit decoding strategies to enhance foundational reading skills.
Pursuant to Board Policy DJE (III.D.3.g.2), the purchase of Amira Tutor does not require a competitive bid because it meets the policy definition of supplemental resources needed for instruction. In addition, Amira Tutor was evaluated and selected by qualified professional personnel based on sound pedagogical judgment and in the school district’s best interest.
Details: Amira ISIP provides a comprehensive and culturally responsive assessment system that evaluates key early literacy components such as phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension-many of which can be completed in 15-20 minutes. The voice-enabled technology listens as students read aloud, detects errors with high reliability and validity, and generates actionable data reports that support differentiated instruction and early identification of reading difficulties, including dyslexia risk.
Amira acts in three essential roles: a dyslexia screener and diagnostic tool, a skilled instructional assistant, and a personalized reading coach. These roles are particularly valuable for early learners who benefit from responsive, individualized practice grounded in the science of reading.
For educators, Amira Tutor enhances classroom efficiency by allowing small group, whole group, or individual support by delivering immediate feedback through an AI-powered 1:1 tutor. For students, Amira Tutor fosters independence and engagement through interactive read-aloud experiences and real-time positive reinforcement. This tool is especially effective for supporting diverse learners thanks to its universal design features and multilingual sensitivity.
Overall, Amira Tutor empowers K-3 teachers with the data and tools needed to deliver responsive instruction, monitor progress, and close early literacy gaps, making it an asset in building foundational reading proficiency across all student groups. The selection of the Amira Tutor followed a two-round review process:
Round 1 (March 17, 2025): The five GADOE approved vendors presented their universal reading and dyslexia screener in person. A total of 15 participants attended, including central office coordinators, directors, assistant superintendents, and chiefs. Participants provided structured feedback and posed questions regarding instructional design, alignment with science of reading, and support for differentiated instruction of each resource.
Round 2 (April 3, 2025): Vendors addressed specific questions that arose in Round 1.
Financial impact: The total contract amount will not exceed $600,000.
120.2100.553200.26021.7210.1613.8010.035.2025
GEER II Dyslexia
Communication-Web Subscription
100-1000-553200-00011-7580-9990-8010-035-000
Communication-Web Subscription
100-2220-530000-00011-7580-9990-8010-035-0000
Purchased Professional/Technical Services
Contact: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0731
Dr. Sean R. Tartt, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0731
Dr. Penny Mosley, Assistant Superintendent K-5 Curriculum & Instruction, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0137
Dr. Lynn Angus Ramos, Director, Literacy, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0136
Mrs. Lummie Baker, Director, Educational Media and Instructional Materials, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-2421
Effective: July 15, 2025- June 30, 2026
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs
Quote
Amira Q-76490
Prepared For
Dekalb County School District
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Stone Mtn, GA, 30083-1027
Your Amira Partner
Adam Cohn
Account Executive
adam.cohn@amiralearning.com
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5214F Diamond Heights Blvd, #3255, San Francisco, CA 94131 | 866-883-7323 | orders@amiralearning.com
Quote: Q-76490
Prepared For: Dekalb County School District
Expires On: 8/1/2025
Custom Professional Learning Services
Custom Professional Learning support possibly including on-boarding, agreed upon number of data consultations, and additional assistance as
needed by a designated Implementation Specialist for new or continued Istation supporters. Must be used in current subscription term.
QTY Product Campus Start Date Months Sales Price
1 Custom 8/01/2025 12 $110,000.00
Professional
Learning Services
Start Date: 8/01/2025 Term: 12 End Date: 7/31/2026
List Amount $130,000.00
Discount Amount ($20,000.00)
Customer Total $110,000.00
Please see addendum for price breakdown and professional services being
offered.
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Addendum
Service Cost
1. Comprehensive Professional Development Plan $110,000
a. 30 Full days of on-site Professional Development,
with 5 days provided at no cost to the district.
b. 8 days of Virtual Professional Development.
$0.00
2. Customer Success Manager
3. Amira training through our Amira Academy, a training $0.00
sequence providing hours of asynchronous lessons
4. Teacher Resource Hub
5. Amira Bot and Tech Support $0.00
Professional Learning Plan: DeKalb County School District
SY 2025-2026 | Amira ISIP Assess & Tutor Implementation
Scope
● Deliver professional learning for K-3 teachers and administrators who
are implementing Amira ISIP Assess & Tutor
○ 20 In-Person Teacher Training Sessions
■ 5 Regional Clusters - Covering all elementary schools
○ 8 Virtual Office Hours/Coaching for Teachers (Monthly)
○ 10 In-Person Admin Training Sessions
Professional Learning Delivery Structure
A. Teacher-Focused Onsite Trainings (20 In-Person Sessions)
Model: Regional Clusters across 5 geographic areas (4 In-Person sessions per area)
Cadence: Staggered across the school year to match instructional phases
Time of Year Training Focus
August / Meet Amira: Administering ISIP Assessments, Introducing Amira Tutor
Back-to-School to Students, Classroom Setup & Routines, Teacher Dashboard Overview
October / Early Analyzing Beginning-of-Year Data, Setting Usage Goals, Building
Fall Effective Practice Routines, Differentiation Strategies with Amira Tutor
January / Interpreting Mid-Year Assessment Data, Progress Monitoring, Targeting
Mid-Year Instructional Gaps, Maximizing Amira's Intervention Features
March-April / Preparing for End-of-Year Assessments, Sustaining Growth with At-Risk
Spring Prep Students, Leveraging Reports for Instructional Planning
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5214F Diamond Heights Blvd, #3255, San Francisco, CA 94131 | 866-883-7323 | info@amiralearning.com
B. Administrator/District Leadership Onsite Trainings (10 Days Total)
Date Audience Training Session Notes
7/21 MTSS Specialists ~90 participants Meet Amira ISIP Assess &
Tutor Training
7/29 Teachers 4 Virtual Sessions (Area Meet Amira ISIP Assess &
1-4 + Specialty) Tutor Training
8/12 Test Coordinators ~100 participants Amira ISIP Assess
Administration
TBD Academic Coaches & Maximize hybrid days to Meet Amira ISIP Assess &
ELA Content Leads serve multiple groups Tutor Training
TBD Remaining 5 Dates Staggered through year Topics to Cover: Progress
monitoring, data dives,
leadership coaching
C. Virtual Coaching / Office Hours
● Cadence: Monthly (8 sessions total)
● Format: 15-minute microlearning + 15-minute open Q&A
● Topics: Rotating based on implementation phase, teacher feedback, and data
trends (Topics to be developed in collaboration with the District Team)
● Timing: Afternoons to accommodate teacher schedules
Professional Learning Session Objectives
● Understand and confidently administer the Amira ISIP Assessments
● Build routines and classroom structures for ongoing Amira Tutor practice
● Analyze Growth Dashboard data to inform instruction
● Differentiate support using Tutor Settings (Early Reader Scaffold, Spanish
Tutoring, Bilingual Options)
● Troubleshoot classroom setup and technology optimizations
● Build student agency and confidence with Amira routines
● Leverage Teacher Resource Hub and Help Tools
● Integrate Science of Reading principles into daily Amira usage
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5214F Diamond Heights Blvd, #3255, San Francisco, CA 94131 | 866-883-7323 | info@amiralearning.com
Goals & Success Metrics (To Be Finalized with District Team)
● Student Usage Goal: 30+ minutes/week average Amira Tutor usage across all
campuses
● Assessment Participation Goal: 95% assessment completion for all
benchmark windows
● Growth Goal: Demonstrated fluency growth per district KPIs
● Teacher Participation Goal: 90% attendance at onsite and virtual PD sessions
● Satisfaction Goal: 90% positive feedback on PD sessions
Additional Support
● Dedicated Customer Success Manager
● Monthly District Implementation Team Check-Ins
● Champions Network (school-based power users and early adopters)
● Ongoing access to asynchronous courses and on-demand help resources
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5214F Diamond Heights Blvd, #3255, San Francisco, CA 94131 | 866-883-7323 | info@amiralearning.com
Customer Success Manager
Customer Success Manager Continued
Amira Academy
Teacher Resource Hub
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Supercharge Program Success with
Amira AI + Expert Professional Learning
Unlock the full potential of the world’s most advanced
AI reading tutor.
Amira is leading a revolution in literacy through the power of AI. We are
transforming how children learn to read by providing the world’s most
advanced AI-powered literacy tool. But technology alone isn’t enough—
teachers and administrators need expert guidance to drive real impact. That’s
where Amira Professional Learning comes in.
Our Professional Learning & Consulting services empower educators to maximize
Amira’s potential, accelerating student literacy growth like never before. Districts that
invest in premium learning experiences see:
Faster adoption Higher teacher Significant gains
& seamless confidence & in student literacy
implementation engagement growth
How does Amira Professional Services Work?
Essential Training
Amira provides essential training to all districts to ensure launch success.
These flexible and accessible learning resources ensure a smooth
implementation and help educators get started with confidence.
AmiraLearning.com/Amira-Reading
What’s Included:
A Amira Academy - Asynchronous Course A Amira Bot & Tech Support
Flexible, self-paced learning for busy educators On-demand and live support
A Live Training Webinars A Site Champions & Teacher Community
Getting Started, Data & Reporting, Teacher Empowering leaders to drive success
Check-Ins & Ongoing learning with experts
and peers. A Teacher Resource Hub
Guides, best practices, and tools
Professional Learning & Consulting Services
Amira’s Premium Professional Learning & Consulting Services elevate implementation success,
driving deeper literacy outcomes. These offerings are designed for districts that want to:
• Accelerate student outcomes with evidence-based, high-impact professional learning.
• Build teacher capacity with cutting-edge AI-driven literacy training.
• Customize implementation strategies to fit their district’s unique needs.
Amira’s Premium Professional Learning & Consulting
Services elevate implementation success
Driving deeper literacy outcomes. These offerings are designed
for districts that want to:
• Demonstrates best practices in using Amira’s AI to its full potential.
• Explains how to use Amira to drive literacy gains.
• Provides hands-on guidance.
• Partners on data and coaching strategies.
• Drives a culture of data driven decision making.
AmiraLearning.com/Amira-Reading
Quote: Q-76490
Prepared For: DeKalb County School District
Expires On: 8/1/2025
Disclaimer: Pricing is as quoted and is subject to change based on any modifications
to bundle configurations, enrollment updates, or other adjustments. Additional
options are to be paid in full. Totals include applicable taxes, which should be
reflected on your Purchase Order (if applicable).
To avoid delays in processing your order, please ensure the following:
• Email your Purchase Order, including the provided quote number, to
orders@amiralearning.com.
• Digitally sign the contract provided upon commitment with your Amira
partner.
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Effective June 2024, Istation is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Amira Learning, Inc. As part
of our integration efforts and to enhance efficiency across our organization, we are integrating
our financial and banking structures under a single Federal Employer Identification Number
(FEIN).
Effective immediately, all transactions, invoices, and financial documentation should be
processed using the following federal employer identification number and banking information:
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): 82-2207220
Banking Information
ACH Payments (preferred):
Bank Name: Western Alliance Bank
ABA Routing Number: 121143260
Bank Address: One East Washington Street Ste 2500 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 U.S.A
Account Name: Amira Learning Inc
Account Number: 8996514912
Beneficiary Address: 5214f Diamond Heights Blvd # 3255 San Francisco, CA 94131
Check Payments:
Amira Learning Inc
PO BOX 92448
Las Vegas, NV 89193-2448
(Note: Please do not send check payments to the beneficiary address noted on the W-9.
Check payments should be sent to Amira Learning, Inc.s lockbox, which is administered
by Western Alliance Bank. This address differs from the one listed on the W-9.)
To assist in updating your records, we have attached the following documents:
Amira Learning, Inc. Form W-9
Official Banking Letters confirming our updated banking details
Please update your records to reflect this change and ensure that all future payments and
correspondence are directed accordingly.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to
AccountsReceivable@amiralearning.com.
We appreciate your partnership and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Monika Flood, CFO
Amira Learning, Inc.
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info@amiralearning.com
Remit to: P.O. Box 92448, Las Vegas, NV 89193-2448
April 27, 2025
BANK ACCOUNT VERIFICATION LETTER
2/18/2025
RE: Amira Learning Inc
To Whom It May Concern,
Amira Learning Inc has an a Western Alliance Bank.
122105980
8996514912
is
Western Alliance Bank
BBFXUS6S
122105980
One Ste 2500
, Arizona 85004 U.S.A
Amira Learning Inc
8996514912
, CA,
ility on the
Western Alliance Bank
Sincerely,
Benidt
Head of Branch Banking
1 East Washington Street • Phoenix, AZ • 85004 • (602) 389-3500