Agenda Item
a. Pre-K and Early Learning-Waterford Supplemental Instructional Resource (Not to Exceed $130,000)
Summary: Presented by: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb Board of Education approve the purchase of Waterford as a supplemental instructional resource for an amount not to exceed $130,000. Funding for this purchase will be provided through the Bright From the Start Pre-K4 Grant and general funds.
Why: The Waterford early learning instructional resource is a diagnostic, adaptive program for Pre-K scholars that has a strategic focus on the development of early literacy and numeracy skills, aligned to the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS). The program's systematic and explicit approach to learning supports a gradual release model with targeted support for remediation and acceleration, aligned to each student's individual learning pathway, and is grounded in research-based instructional practices.
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 its Pre-K scholars in the areas of early literacy and numeracy, consistent with the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS). The Waterford instructional resource provides explicit, standards-aligned instruction that supports the individualized learning pathway of each Pre-K (3&4) student within the classroom and at home.
The Waterford platform is used by all Pre-K (3&4) students, teachers, and paraprofessionals in DCSD Pre-K classrooms districtwide, currently serving more than 2,900 students. The recommended usage is 15 minutes per day, 75 minutes per week, and 300 minutes per month. The platform also includes a family engagement component that provides families with access to student progress monitoring, at-home learning resources, and family newsletters available in English and Spanish.
The Waterford platform was implemented across all Pre-K (3&4) classrooms districtwide during the 2025-2026 school year. District survey results indicated that 55 of 81 responding teachers (68 percent) found the platform very or somewhat effective in supporting reading and math instruction, and 161 of 184 responding parents (88 percent) indicated they see value in their child using the platform daily.
Financial impact: Waterford Instructional Supplemental Resource (licenses): $116,000
Professional Learning: $13,200
Grant Fund Charge Codes:
560.2300.553200.17821.7481.1540.8010.094.2027
560.2300.530000.17821.7481.1540.8010.094.2027
General Fund Charge Codes:
100.2300.553200.00011.8740.9990.8010.094.0000
100.2300.530000.00011.8740.9990.8010.094.0000
Contact: Mrs. Kiana King, Interim Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services, 678.676.1200
Dr. Zack Phillips, Executive Director of Early Learning and Pre-K Programs, Division of Student Services, 678.676.1200
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Form
(Rev. March 2024)
W-9 Request for Taxpayer
Identification Number and Certification
Give form to the
requester. Do not
Department of the Treasury
Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.
send to the IRS.
Internal Revenue Service
Before you begin. For guidance related to the purpose of Form W-9, see Purpose of Form, below.
1 Name of entity/individual. An entry is required. (For a sole proprietor or disregarded entity, enter the owner’s name on line 1, and enter the business/disregarded
entity’s name on line 2.)
Waterford Institute
2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above.
Waterford Research Institute
Print or type.
3a Check the appropriate box for federal tax classification of the entity/individual whose name is entered on line 1. Check 4 Exemptions (codes apply only to
only one of the following seven boxes. certain entities, not individuals;
see instructions on page 3):
Individual/sole proprietor C corporation S corporation Partnership Trust/estate
LLC. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = Partnership) . . . . C Exempt payee code (if any) 5
Note: Check the “LLC” box above and, in the entry space, enter the appropriate code (C, S, or P) for the tax
classification of the LLC, unless it is a disregarded entity. A disregarded entity should instead check the appropriate Exemption from Foreign Account Tax
box for the tax classification of its owner. Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting
See Specific Instructions on page 3.
Other (see instructions) code (if any)
3b If on line 3a you checked “Partnership” or “Trust/estate,” or checked “LLC” and entered “P” as its tax classification,
(Applies to accounts maintained
and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate in which you have an ownership interest, check
outside the United States.)
this box if you have any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries. See instructions . . . . . . . . .
5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.). See instructions. Requester’s name and address (optional)
4246 Riverboat Rd #150
6 City, state, and ZIP code
Taylorsville, UT 84123
7 List account number(s) here (optional)
Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Social security number
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid
backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a
resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other – –
entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a
or
TIN, later.
Employer identification number
Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. See also What Name and
Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter. 2 0 1 3 2 1 2 8 5
Part II Certification
Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and
2. I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am
no longer subject to backup withholding; and
3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and
4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.
Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding
because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid,
acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and, generally, payments
other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later.
Sign
Here
Signature of
U.S. person Date
Jan 7, 2026
General Instructions New line 3b has been added to this form. A flow-through entity is
required to complete this line to indicate that it has direct or indirect
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries when it provides the Form W-9
noted. to another flow-through entity in which it has an ownership interest. This
Future developments. For the latest information about developments change is intended to provide a flow-through entity with information
related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted regarding the status of its indirect foreign partners, owners, or
after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9. beneficiaries, so that it can satisfy any applicable reporting
requirements. For example, a partnership that has any indirect foreign
What’s New partners may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3. See the
Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065).
Line 3a has been modified to clarify how a disregarded entity completes
this line. An LLC that is a disregarded entity should check the Purpose of Form
appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Otherwise, it
should check the “LLC” box and enter its appropriate tax classification. An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an
information return with the IRS is giving you this form because they
Cat. No. 10231X Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024)