March 2026 - Software-advisory-k12

Proposed Plan for Nearpod (Feedback Requested)
by Justin Brooksby 31 Mar '26

31 Mar '26

Hi all, I think we finally have a good option with Nearpod, thanks for your patience as we work through this negotiation. Please review this option below and respond with comments. I feel this is the best solution based on what funding we have. Please do not share this information broadly until we have secured a contract. --------------------------------- As you requested, we explored the possibility of providing access to the base Nearpod platform statewide. While this is not our standard model, we are prepared to make an exception in Utah to support broader access. Our goal is to ensure all districts can continue using Nearpod at a foundational level, while retaining the flexibility to expand functionality based on their individual needs. What this means for districts currently using the Instructional Suite Today, Utah educators have access to the full Nearpod Instructional Suite, including: * Nearpod platform functionality * School and district lesson sharing * Nearpod Lesson Library * Math and Social Studies content libraries Under the proposed model, all Utah educators would transition to Platform Only access, which includes: Platform Only functionality * Access to Nearpod’s core instructional tools, including, real-time insights and student engagement features * Continued ability to deliver and create lessons using the platform Key changes * Removal of built-in content, including the Lesson Library and Math and Social Studies programs * Removal of access to school and district shared Nearpod libraries * Teachers will be responsible for creating or sourcing instructional materials moving forward We recognize this represents a shift from the current experience. However, given the constraints discussed, we believe this approach preserves the core instructional value of Nearpod while enabling statewide access. For districts that wish to maintain their current level of functionality, we will continue to offer upgrade options directly through Renaissance. Available upgrades from Platform Only include: * 21st Century Skills content * English Learner (EL) support * Instructional Suite content (Lesson Library, Math, and Social Studies) * Restoration of school and district shared libraries through Instructional Suite licensing This structure ensures all educators retain access to the platform, while providing districts the ability to opt into additional capabilities as needed. ----------------------------------- Justin Brooksby Associate Director Ed. Tech Solutions [Image]

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Nearpod Licensing Options – Feedback Requested
by Justin Brooksby 24 Mar '26

24 Mar '26

We’ve continued discussions with the Nearpod team, but unfortunately, we have not made much progress. One of the primary challenges is how licensing must be structured. We had initially been told that Silver, Gold, and Premium subscription tiers were available; however, they have since clarified that those options are no longer being offered to us. As things currently stand, we have a few potential paths forward: Option 1: Use the $500,000 to purchase licenses directly. At the current rate, this would cover approximately 83,300 student licenses statewide. Because licensing must be applied at the school level, we cannot distribute smaller portions (e.g., 500 licenses) to an LEA. In practice, this means some LEAs—such as single-school charters—could be fully funded, while larger districts may only be able to cover one or a few schools. Option 2: Apply the $500,000 as a subsidy and have Nearpod offer a reduced rate of $3 per student to LEAs. Licenses would still need to be purchased at the school level under this model. Option 3: Issue an RFP to explore whether we can secure a lower cost from Nearpod or open the opportunity to other vendors. I believe this is a viable option, though we would need to confirm alignment with legislative requirements. I would appreciate your feedback on these options. Since this funding is intended to support your needs, I want to ensure we move in a direction that is most beneficial and practical for you. Thank you, Justin Brooksby Associate Director Ed. Tech Solutions [Image]

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Nearpod Licensing
by Justin Brooksby 16 Mar '26

16 Mar '26

Hi everyone, As you might know, Nearpod received some funding (500K) this year. It is not enough to fund it in the same way we have in years past. At this point I am hoping to get some information from you. Considering funding is limited. * How many licenses would you need next year? I am hoping to see if we really need 680,000 licenses for the state. I don’t think we do. The more of you who respond the better estimate we can make and hopefully purchase less licenses and still make it available to everyone. We know budgets are small. We are also open to suggestions as we negotiate with them. It would be helpful to have this information by the end of this week or early next week. Justin Brooksby Associate Director Ed. Tech Solutions [Image]

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Requesting Information for Necessity of Derivita
by Jacinto Treto 12 Mar '26

12 Mar '26

Hello everyone, As we approach the end of FY26, it's time to start reviewing contracts that are set to expire this fiscal year. One of the important ones we want to discuss is Derivita. Derivita was procured by UEN through a sole-source means in 2021 for a five-year period. The purpose of this email is to reach out directly to you as an administrator of your school/district. UEN is considering the effort required to secure another sole-source agreement to extend or renew this contract; however, we would like your input on the impact of Derivita at your LEA and the impact if it were no longer provided at a consortium discount from UEN. Please have your responses to me by the end of this week, 3/13/2026, 4:00 PM. Thank you, Jacinto Treto Software Procurement Manager Utah Education Network jacinto(a)uen.org<mailto:cathleen@uen.org> 801-587-1742 [cid:image001.jpg@01DCAFD4.C92BA300]

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Re: Requesting Information for Necessity of Derivita
by Gebhardt, Katie 10 Mar '26

10 Mar '26

Hi Jacinto, Thanks for letting us weigh in on this. Canyons School District strongly supports UEN in securing another sole-source agreement with Derivita. CSD was among the first districts to adopt Derivita on a districtwide scale. Initially, approximately 30 secondary teachers used the platform; Five years later, its use has expanded to nearly all secondary schools in the district. Currently, about 85% of high school mathematics teachers use Derivita for homework and assessments. At the middle school level, all math teachers use the platform to administer district assessments, and approximately 50% also use it to assign homework. In addition, Canyons teachers regularly use Derivita’s reporting tools to conduct individual and PLC data analysis. Canyons educators prefer Derivita over comparable platforms (e.g., MyOpenMath and MasteryConnect) because of its advanced mathematical modeling capabilities, which allow both students and teachers to engage deeply with complex mathematics. The platform also enables teachers to share and administer common assessments and collaboratively analyze results. Additionally, Derivita provides students with immediate, personalized feedback on assignments, helping them develop a stronger understanding of mathematical concepts. No other math software currently offers this same combination of features and functionality. If Derivita were no longer available at the discounted rate provided through UEN, Canyons School District would not be able to sustain the cost of the licenses. While alternative products exist, they do not offer the same depth of mathematical capability or integrated assessment and feedback features that Derivita provides. Thanks! [Logo, icon Description automatically generated] Katie Gebhardt Digital Teaching & Learning Specialist Instructional Supports Department 📞 (385)226-4522 🗓 Schedule an appointment<https://calendly.com/katie-gebhardt/experiment1et?back=1&month=2022-07> 📧 katie.gebhardt(a)canyonsdistrict.org<mailto:katie.gebhardt@canyonsdistrict.org> From: Jacinto Treto <jacinto(a)uen.org> Date: Monday, March 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM To: "software-advisory-k12(a)lists.uen.org" <software-advisory-k12(a)lists.uen.org> Subject: [Software-advisory-k12] Requesting Information for Necessity of Derivita Hello everyone, As we approach the end of FY26, it's time to start reviewing contracts that are set to expire this fiscal year. One of the important ones we want to discuss is Derivita. Derivita was procured by UEN through a sole-source means in 2021 for a five-year period. The purpose of this email is to reach out directly to you as an administrator of your school/district. UEN is considering the effort required to secure another sole-source agreement to extend or renew this contract; however, we would like your input on the impact of Derivita at your LEA and the impact if it were no longer provided at a consortium discount from UEN. Please have your responses to me by the end of this week, 3/13/2026, 4:00 PM. Thank you, Jacinto Treto Software Procurement Manager Utah Education Network jacinto(a)uen.org<mailto:cathleen@uen.org> 801-587-1742 [cid:image002.jpg@01DCB076.CC57AE00]

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