Agenda Item
b. Division of Student Services ~ Waterford Supplemental Instructional Resource (Not to exceed $130,000) ~ Updated 8.7.2025
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of the Waterford Platform - Instructional Supplemental Resource in the amount not to exceed $130,000 from the Bright From the Start Pre-K4 Grant and the Pre-K3 General Operating Budget.
Why: Due to the proposed deployment of the Waterford Platform - Instructional Supplemental Resource across all Pre-K4 classrooms throughout the district, the total cost in the amount not to exceed $130,000 from the Bright From the Start Pre-K4 Grant and the
Pre-K3 General Operating Budget. The Waterford supplemental instructional platform is a diagnostic adaptive program for Pre-K scholars that has a strategic focus on the development of early literacy and early numeracy skills while being aligned to the Georgia Early Learning Developmental Standards, (GELDS). The programs’ systematic and explicit approach to learning that supports the gradual release model with target support for remediation and/or acceleration is aligned to each student’s learning pathway that’s highlighted by research based instructional practices. The skills that are developed in partnership with the instructional experience within the classroom setting with the utilization of the Waterford platform helps to enhance the development of early literacy, early numeracy, and foundation of school skills within our Pre-K (3&4) scholars.
Details: The DeKalb County School District, as a local educational agency (LEA) receiving Bright From the Start - (Pre-K4) grant funds, has an obligation to continue to enhance the instructional offering of our young scholars in the areas of early literacy and early numeracy. Services from the preferred vendor will support explicit instruction being delivered as an added value to our young scholar’s instructional experience within their classroom and home settings.
The DeKalb County School District currently serves over 2800 Pre-K (3&4) students within (25) Pre-K3 classes and (128) Pre-K4 classes. Having access to the Waterford Platform - Instructional Supplemental Resource will be an added value to their instructional experience within the early learning arena.
During the 2024-2025 school year, the Waterford platform was piloted across all our Pre-K3 expansion sites and Pre-K4 classes that are designated at the same schools. There was a total of 550 students utilizing the platform within the various Pre-K (3&4) expansion and piloted classrooms. Effective communication with our families is essential with ensuring that the Waterford platform is accessible and utilized at home during the school year to support our students’ instructional journey. The utilization of the platform within their classroom settings is an added value to the instructional offering that they receive form their teachers and paraprofessionals. In accordance with Board Policy DJE, Board approval is being requested for the Waterford - supplemental instructional resource to be deployed across the district within all Pre-K (3&4) classrooms.
Waterford Platform - Pre-K3 Achievement Data
The scores listed below represent the achievement data for the content areas of literacy and numeracy Pre-K3 scholars during the 2024-2025 SY.
Waterford Platform - Pre-K4 Achievement Data
The scores listed below represent the achievement data for the content areas of literacy and numeracy Pre-K4 scholars during the 2024-2025 SY.
According to DJE, Board approval is being requested for the Waterford Platform - Instructional Supplemental Resource and Professional Learning services.
Financial impact: The financial impact to the general funds for Pre-K3 students who will utilize the Waterford platform during the 2025-2025 school year will not exceed the amount of 20,000. The financial impact to the Bright From the Start funds for Pre-K4 students who will utilize the Waterford platform during the 2025-2026 school year will not exceed the amount of $110,000.
Department of Early Learning and Pre-K3 Programs Charge Code:
560.0000.434000.17821.7481.1540.6014.094.2025
Department of Early Learning and Pre-K4 Programs Charge Code:
560.2300.553200.17821.7481.1540.8010.094.2026
560.2210.511600.17821.7640.1540.8010.094.2026
Contact: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Dr. Zack Phillips, Executive Director of Early Learning and Pre-K Programs, Division of Student Services, 678-676-2048
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Quote
Date 6/4/2025
Quote # Q00009833
Expiration Date
Payment Terms Net 30
Prepared By Christine Long
Bill To: DeKalb County School District Ship To: DeKalb County School District
Zack Phillips Zack Phillips
1701 MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIAL BLVD 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA 30083 Stone Mtn, GA 30083-1027
Item Number Description Unit Price Quantity Price
WEL01SG Waterford Early Learning Single Student License $88.00 2800 $246,400.00
SmartStart, Early Reading, Early Math & Science, WACS, Mentor, (-$48.00) (-$134,400.00)
and the Resource Library and Playlists - single student annual
license
Notes: List Price: $246,400.00
Discount: $134,400.00
FY26- 2,800 PreK3 and PreK4 scholars in DeKalb County School District Total: $112,000.00
Discount ($40.00 per student-Expanded PK Pilot for 2025-2026)
This quote includes the following for a PreK3 and PreK4 implementation:
** Students can access their adaptive learning pathway at school and at home **
Individual student learning paths (SmartStart or Waterford Early Learning)
Comes with software technical/customer phone support to compliment software licenses
Parent newsletters and monthly activity calendars available under Resources in Platform
Parent Mentor app, so families can access all at home resources, activities, monitor their
student's progress, access hundreds of digital books in English and Spanish are also available
to families
2,000 explicit lessons in Reading, aligned to Science of Reading and state and early learning
standards
7,000 activities teachers can print and use in the classroom to supplement instruction
700 explicit Math & Science lessons, aligned to state and early learning standards
5,000 Math and Science activities that teachers can print and use in the classroom for small
group or center/stations
~Licenses active from when PO received
~Ongoing Tech support for Teachers, Administration and parents through
welsupport@waterford.org or 1-877-499-7997
Please submit PO to Christine Long: christinelong@waterford.org
Any software discount shown is valid ONLY for the term of this subscription. Standard list price applies thereafter. This price quotation for the
customer's convenience only and not an offer to contract. All quotations are subject to review and final acceptance by a duly authorized
representative of Waterford Research Institute. Not responsible for typographical or other errors. Waterford's standard licensing terms and
conditions will apply to any order.
If professional services are purchased, then all such services shall expire upon completion of the subscription term.
All pricing in this quotation is exclusive of any applicable sales, use or other similar taxes or duties. The customer is responsible for such taxes
or duties that may apply. If the customer is tax-exempt, evidence of such tax exemption must be provided or else you will be charged
sales tax.
COMING SUMMER 2025 - Waterford Reading Academy will change its name to Waterford Early Learning!