Chronology for Board Agenda Item-Waterford (Final)1

                             Chronology for Board Agenda Item
                       Waterford-Early Learning Instructional Resource
                                DCSD’s Pre-K (3&4) scholars

Scope
Given the increased number of Pre-K (3&4) scholars and parents/guardians within the DeKalb
County School District who are projected to utilize the Waterford Early Learning Instructional
Resource within the classroom and home settings, the district anticipates that the expenditure for
services will be paid out of the Bright From the Start Pre-K4 Grant and general funds. The amount
will not exceed $130,000 for site licenses and professional learning during the 2026-2027 school
year.
Per Board Policy DJE, Board approval is being requested for the Waterford Early Learning
Instructional Resource and professional learning services. This approval will expand the overall
scope, implementation, and impact of the Waterford Early Learning Instructional Resource
within the classroom and home settings of all Pre-K (3&4) scholars throughout the district.
Once approved, students will have access to the online Waterford platform which is aligned to
the Pre-K (3&4) Georgia Early Learning Developmental Standards (GELDS), and the goal areas
listed below for total transparency.

Goal Area 1
1.1 – Increase proficiency rates in literacy on district and state assessments for all students.
1.2- Increase proficiency rates in numeracy on district and state assessments for all students.


Background
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
program’s 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. The
recommended usage of the Waterford platform for Pre-K (3&4) scholars is (15) minutes per
day, (75) minutes per week, and (300) minutes per month.
During the 2025-2026 school year, the Waterford platform was piloted across the entire district
in classrooms serving our young scholars. Continuing effective communication with our families
and staff members is essential for accessing the Waterford platform throughout the school
year to maximize the resources in support of our students’ instructional journey. The utilization
of the platform within their classroom settings is an added value to the instructional offering
that they receive from their teachers and paraprofessionals.
Financial Chronology
The fund amounts allocated via the Bright From the Start Grant and general funds to be spent for
the 2026- 2027 school year is highlighted below as a point of reference.

      Year                                           Cost
   2024-2025                 $22,000-Pilot year in 47 select Pre-K 3&4 classrooms
   2025-2026        Department of Early Learning and Pre-K Programs request of $130,000.00
   2026-2027        Department of Early Learning and Pre-K Programs request of $130,000.00
Waterford Platform – Area 1 Schools Usage Data




Waterford Platform – Area 2 Schools Usage Data




Waterford Platform – Area 3 Schools Usage Data
Waterford Platform – Horizon Area Schools Usage Data




Waterford Platform – Specialty Area Schools Usage Data

Waterford – Teacher Survey Data
How       easy was it for you to monitor and assess your students' progress using the Waterford
platform?

    Extremely easy                28

                                  23



•
    Somewhat easy

    Neutral                       14

    Somewhat difficult            11

    Very difficult                5




Do you like utilizing the instructional resources embedded within the Waterford platform?




•   Yes                           64

•   No                            17




Did you enjoy utilizing the playlist feature to support whole and small group instruction within your
classroom setting?




•   Yes                          55

•   No                           26




Did you see value in utilizing the different reports within the Waterford platform to assist you with
making data driven instructional decisions with your students?



•   Yes                          61

•   No                           20




Do you feel that Waterford compliments the instructional standards that you teach daily within your
classroom setting?
Waterford – Parent Survey Data
    Do you feel that Waterford complimented the instructional standards being taught in the
    classroom setting on a daily basis?




    •   Yes                    161

    •   No                     23




Would you want you child to have access to the Waterford platform over summer break?




•       Yes                   160

•       No                    24