Agenda Item
d. RFQ 26-725 K-12 Social Studies Instructional Resources Adoption and Purchase (Not to Exceed $15,000,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Sean Tartt, Acting Chief Academic Officer, Division of Teaching and Learning
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the RFQ 26-725 K-12 Social Studies Instructional Resources adoption and purchase of Cengage Learning, Incorporated, Gallopade International, Bedford, Freeman & Worth, Pearson, Incorporated, McGraw-Hill, Incorporated, W.W. Norton, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), and Oxford University Press. These vendors represent the most responsive and responsible bidders to provide social studies instructional resources in print and/or digital formats for teachers and students for more than $100,000 per vendor but not to exceed a total contracted amount of $15,000,000.
K-8
Grade/Specific Courses
Vendor & Resource
K-8 Social Studies
Gallopade International - Georgia Social Studies
9-12
Course
Vendor
Title
American Government/ Civics
Cengage Learning Inc
American Government, 3rd edition
Advanced Placement Government/Politics: United States
Bedford, Freeman & Worth
American Government: Stories of a Nation for the AP Course (2E)
Advanced Placement Government/Politics: Comparative
Bedford, Freeman & Worth
Comparative Government: Stories of the World for the AP Course
Introduction to African American/Black Studies
Pearson Inc
The African American Odyssey, 7e ©2020
Advanced Placement African American Studies
Bedford, Freeman & Worth
Freedom on My Mind A History of African Americans for the AP Course (3E)
World History
McGraw-Hill LLC
World History
Advanced Placement World History: Modern
W.W. Norton
Worlds Together, Worlds Apart 3rd AP Edition
Advanced Placement European History
Cengage Learning Inc
Western Civilizations since 1450, 12th edition
World Geography
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Global Geography
Advanced Placement Human Geography
Cengage Learning Inc
Human Geography: A Spatial Perspective AP edition
United States History
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
American History
Advanced Placement United States History
Cengage Learning Inc
American Pageant, 18th edition
International Baccalaureate History of the Americas, Year One (U. S. History)
Oxford University Press
DP History of the Americas (2026 Edition)
Personal Finance and Economics
McGraw-Hill LLC
McGraw Hill Social Studies Economics w/ Actively Learn
Personal Financial Literacy
McGraw-Hill LLC
Kapoor’s Financial Literacy
Advanced Placement Microeconomics
Bedford, Freeman & Worth
Krugman's Economics for the AP Course (4E)
Advanced Placement Macroeconomics
Bedford, Freeman & Worth
Krugman's Macroeconomics for the AP Course (4E)
Psychology
McGraw-Hill LLC
Fitzsimmons and Thompson’s Understanding Psychology
Advanced Placement Psychology
Bedford, Freeman & Worth
Myers' Psychology for the AP Course (4E)
International Baccalaureate Psychology, Year One
Oxford University Press
DP Psychology: Coursebook (2025 Edition)
Sociology
McGraw-Hill LLC
Schaefer’s Sociology: A Brief Introduction
Why: The quality of instruction in the district is evaluated in part by students' content mastery across grade levels and subjects. Evidence of students' performance on measures of content mastery for social studies for 2024 and 2025 are provided below. These assessments represent our students' performance, in general, in these subjects. While growth from 2024 to 2025 can be observed, the data suggest there is ample room for more. The adoption and purchase of high-quality resources for all K-12 social studies courses offered in the district will provide the strongest support to inform and complement classroom instruction uniformly and consistently.
DCSD CCRPI Data for Social Studies
2025
Beginning Learner- 1
Developing Learner- 2
Proficient Learner- 3
Distinguished Learner- 4
Social Studies- Grade 8 EOG
37.80%
36.40%
19.30%
6.50%
U.S. History- EOC
25.30%
25.80%
29.60%
19.30%
2024
Beginning Learner- 1
Developing Learner- 2
Proficient Learner- 3
Distinguished Learner- 4
Social Studies- Grade 8 EOG
36.80%
36.30%
20.80%
6.10%
HS U.S. History- EOC
27.50%
28.70%
26.90%
16.90%
Details: In accordance with the formal procurement procedures published by the Georgia Department of Education, the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued February 12, 2026. Electronic notification was sent to 175 vendors from the DCSD vendor list, 652 vendors through the State of Georgia Procurement Registry (GPR), and 539 vendors through IonWave, the DCSD solicitation portal. The solicitation was advertised in the Champion Newspaper for two (2) consecutive weeks beginning February 12, 2026. Twenty-three (23) proposals were deemed responsive and evaluated on the following criteria: alignment to the K-12 Georgia Standards of Excellence, research-evidence based instructional strategies/resources for diverse learners (i.e., English Learners, Exceptional Education, Early Intervention Program, Montessori, International Baccalaureate, STEM, Magnet, and Theme), quality of supporting texts, support for improved literacy practices, complimentary digital resources, data privacy, set-up costs, initial training, and ongoing support.
The contract will include up to five, one-year extension options contingent upon DCSD’s offer to such extension, the successful offeror’s acceptance, and the approval of the DeKalb County Board of Education to extend the contract. The school district will purchase materials based on projected enrollments and in accordance to DJE Section 3: The purchase is for instructional materials or programs selected in accordance with Board Policy IFA or selected by qualified professional personnel, based on sound pedagogical judgment and the best interest of the District, and acting at the direction of the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s authorized designee.
Financial impact: The total contract amount will not exceed $15,000,000
Charge Codes:
Digital: 100.1000.564000.00011.7580.9990.8010.035.0000
Printed: 100.1000.564100.00011.7580.9990.8010.035.0000
Contact: Dr. Sean Tartt, Acting Chief Academic Officer, Division of Teaching and Learning, 678.676.0731
Dr. Penny Mosley, Assistant Superintendent K-5, Division of Teaching and Learning, 678-676-0137
Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Assistant Superintendent 6-12, Division of Teaching and Learning 678.676.0137
Ms. Lummie Baker, Director, Educational Media and Instructional Materials, Division of Teaching and Learning, 678.676.2421
Dr. Angelique Conner, Coordinator, Educational Media and Instructional Materials, Division of Teaching and Learning, 678.676.1471
Effective: July 14, 2026- June 30, 2027
Status: Pending Approval by the Office of Legal Affairs
TIMELINE WITH MILESTONES
RFQ 26-725 Social Studies
MILESTONES Dates
Initiating Department (End User) review, compile, classify, Wednesday, November 19, 2025
compare, rank: information gathered from all relevant sources and
suppliers to produce a COMPLETE/THOROUGH SCOPE of WORK
and Objective/Purpose Statement and list of contact data of
known suppliers of such services in the marketplace
Receipt of COMPLETE/THOROUGH SCOPE OF WORK and Objective Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Purpose Statement in the Purchasing Department – ELECTRONIC
FORMAT
APPROVED REQUISITION IN MUNIS WAIVED
Internal Finance Management Review Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Solicitation Kickoff Meeting Thursday, December 4, 2025
Solicitation Roundtable Meeting (Clarification)
End user final draft approval of solicitation @ 12 Noon on or
before
Friday, December 19, 2025
Procurement Solicitation Draft Deadline on or before
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Legal and Risk's written approval of solicitation Thursday, January 22, 2026
Champion News Ad Reservation Deadline Thursday, January 29, 2026
1st Advertisement in Champion News; E-mail Notifications Thursday, February 5, 2026
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Optional Pre-Proposal Conference@ 2 PM (End User Dept must be
in attendance.)
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Deadline for Receipt of Vendor Questions Friday, February 20, 2026
Deadline for Receipt of Answers to Vendor Questions from
Initiating Department Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Questions/Answers Addenda Posted to DCSD Website Friday, February 27, 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline @2PM Thursday, March 5, 2026
Public Virtual Acknowledgement @330PM Thursday, March 5, 2026
Responsiveness Determinations & Process Management by Central Friday, March 13, 2026
Purchasing; Responses Submitted to the End User; Receipt of
signed Evaluator; Begin Evaluation Committee Review Process
Agreements/Surveys from End User
Interviews/Final Selection
BOE Agenda Item Due Date Monday, April 13, 2026
Anticipated BOE Approval Date Monday, May 11, 2026
Notice to Legal for Contract Preparation TBD