RFP 173-25020 Addendum #3 6-12 ELA Adoption Q&A.pdf

6-12 English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum Adoption Q&A - 173-RFP 173-25020

Question Answer

The ELA adoption for 6-12, would be for approx. 26,000 students?

That is correct; however, CCS will consider multiple curriculum material products for different grade spans (6-8, HS) and courses for standard alignment and to best meet the needs of students.

Print and digital online subscriptions for total enrollment?

Yes.

Will there be formal presentations scheduled from initial chosen vendors?

Yes. Vendor presentations will be March 18.

What is the overall time frame for a decision to be made?

We will make our recommendations to the Board of Education in April and notify the recommended vendor(s) following Board approval.

When would you be looking to start integration?

Pending Board approval, we will finalize our implementation plan to be integrated for the 2025-2026 school year.

*Correction to the RFP: Adoption is for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

The RFP states that Cumberland will consider multiple programs by grade band (6-8, HS) – is it acceptable for vendors to submit a program for just one grade band, i.e. 6-8?

Yes.

What is the length of 6-8 class periods for

ELA?

The range of minutes per ELA & Math block for the 2025-2026 academic year will be 50-60 minutes for Tier 1 instruction and 50-60 minutes of shared (ELA & Math 6-8, & Science grade 8) Tier 2 and 3

Instruction daily.

For pricing purposes, can you please share the number of ELA teachers for grades 6, 7, and 8. Additionally, how many sections do they teach?

We have approximately 250 ELA teachers in grades 6 through 8. With few exceptions, ELA teachers provide instruction to 4 sections of students.

Can you clarify the attachment and page number of the review criteria vendors are asked to respond to in “3. Detailed Response to Criteria”. Is this referring to the vendor scorecard (Attachment C) that begins on page 9, or the Instructional Materials Review Criteria (Attachment D) that begins on page 12?

That refers to the Vendor Scorecard that begins on page 9 for the initial review of proposals. However, the Instructional Materials Review Criteria will be used in our second phase of reviews, so additionally addressing those criteria would be beneficial.

Is there a required format for the pricing proposal?

No, as long as all pertinent information is included.

On page 21, 16. Electronic Procurement – does the 1.75% fee apply to this RFP?

No. That was not supposed to be included in the RFP.

Regarding samples: is access to digital samples permitted or is the district requiring print samples as well?

Both print samples and digital access should be provided if your proposal includes the provision of both print and digital resources.

Regarding samples: are samples required by the 2/4 due date as well, or only for the 3/3 finalist due date?

Samples should be sent for the initial phase of review, but they are not required with the February 4 bid proposal. Sample materials should be received at our Operations Center at 810 Gillespie St., Fayetteville, NC 28306 by 2:00pm on February 10, and vendors may opt not to send materials from every grade level at this point in the process.

Selected finalists will then be required to provide 11 complete sets of materials.

Addresses and points of contact will be provided at that time.

On page 3, bullet 5 says, "Finalists must send sample materials to eleven designated sites by March 3, 2025". On

Samples should be sent for the initial phase of review, but they are not required with the February 4 bid proposal. Sample page 6, Number 4 says "Vendors must provide samples of materials for review, including teacher guides, student materials, assessments, and other ancillary materials. Access to digital components, if applicable, should also be included. Any shipping labels must contain the vendor name and bid number." To clarify, do you require a complete set of samples with the proposal submission and then an additional 11 complete sets if we make it to the finalist round?

materials should be received at our Operations Center at 810 Gillespie St., Fayetteville, NC 28306 by 2:00pm on February 10, and vendors may opt not to send materials from every grade level at this point in the process.

Selected finalists will then be required to provide 11 complete sets of materials.

Addresses and points of contact will be provided at that time.

Does the district use Canvas as the LMS? If not, what LMS does the district use?

Yes, the district uses Canvas as the LMS.

Is the district considering curricula that are designed to provide access to the NC Extended Standards for ELA?

No, this RFP is for resources that support the NC Standard Course of Study.

To support the cost proposal, will the District please provide a breakdown of the students and teachers by grade level?

These are estimates. However, it should be understood that CCS is not limited to the initial needs and the number of users in any given year, and contracts should include a clause for covering normal and reasonable adjustments in enrollment at no extra cost to the district.

Grade ELA Teachers Students

6 45 3,800

7 45 3,700

8 45 3,900

9 45 4,500

10 45 4,200

11 45 3,900

12 45 3,500

Will CCS allow an electronic submittal? No.

Do vendors need to have state-approved titles, or will off-list titles be considered?

Off-list titles will be considered.

Will AP materials (correlated to College Board standards) be considered?

No, this RFP does not include AP materials.

Is the district looking for Attachment C to be answered and responded to in our response? OR Attachment D? Or both?

At a minimum, vendors should respond to the Vendor Scorecard (attachment C) for the initial review of proposals. However, the Instructional Materials Review Criteria will be used in our second phase of reviews, so additionally addressing those criteria would be beneficial.

Are hard copy samples required by the RFP deadline or will hard copy samples be requested upon moving to a next stage?

Samples should be sent for the initial phase of review, but they are not required with the February 4 bid proposal. Sample materials should be received at our Operations Center at 810 Gillespie St., Fayetteville, NC 28306 by 2:00pm on February 10, and vendors may opt not to send materials from every grade level at this point in the process.

Selected finalists will then be required to provide 11 complete sets of materials.

Addresses and points of contact will be provided at that time.

What is the term of the contract? The contract is for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

When will the contract begin? The contract will begin for the 2025-2026 school year.

Is this considered an e-procurement subject to the 1.75% transaction fee?

No, that should not have been included in the RFP.

Can you please provide the approximate student counts by grade?

These are estimates. However, it should be understood that CCS is not limited to the initial needs and the number of users in any given year, and contracts should include a clause for covering normal and

Grade ELA Teachers

Students

6 45 3,800

7 45 3,700

8 45 3,900

9 45 4,500

10 45 4,200

Can you please provide the approximate teacher counts by grade?

Please see the table above.

What strengths, skills, and attributes are important to Cumberland County Schools when evaluating companies, their products, and their personnel?

Per the RFP, the vendor provides strong references from large school districts with similar needs, preferably in North Carolina, showing consistent success in implementation and service. The vendor is well-established, with a proven track record of success in educational publishing and service provision.

What role, if any, does Cumberland County Schools see vendors playing in helping to replicate excellence within and throughout CCS?

Per the RFP, we are looking for high-quality instructional materials, a comprehensive professional development plan for teachers and instructional leadership teams, and ongoing district-wide implementation support.

Regarding RFP Requirement #3 (Detailed Response to Criteria), would you like us to address this within our response to Attachment C, Attachment D, or, may we address this requirement within both

At a minimum, vendors should respond to the Vendor Scorecard (attachment C) for the initial review of proposals. However, the Instructional Materials Review Criteria will be used in our second phase of

Attachment C and Attachment D? reviews, so additionally addressing those criteria would be beneficial.

May you please provide express written consent to utilize Cumberland County Schools’ logo in order to create marketing collateral for CCS?

No, I cannot provide express written consent to utilize Cumberland County Schools' logo for creating marketing collateral.

If both implementations are successful, what will exemplar ELA classrooms look like at the end of 2026-27 for Grades 6-8?

For Grades 9-12?

Please see The Cumberland Commitment:

Strategic Plan 2026.

Please picture the ideal Cumberland County Schools graduate. What skills, strengths, and competencies will they possess? How will curriculum and instruction in Cumberland County Schools support the development of these graduates?

Please see The Cumberland Commitment:

Strategic Plan 2026.

Per the RFP, in CCS, essential elements of quality instruction include but are not limited to, implementation of the district curriculum, teaching to the standards, utilizing effective methods of delivery, providing rigorous content, assessing, re-teaching, and providing expanded opportunities in the learning process. It is important to provide students with multiple avenues to accelerate academically.

May you please describe Cumberland County’s approach to teaching writing and grammar, and to assessing students within

6-12 ELA?

Please see The Cumberland Commitment:

Strategic Plan 2026.

May you please provide projected enrollment (by grade) for 2025-26?

These are estimates. However, it should be understood that CCS is not limited to the initial needs and the number of users in any given year, and contracts should include a clause for covering normal and https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/o/ccs/page/the-cumberland-commitment-strategic-plan-2026 https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/o/ccs/page/the-cumberland-commitment-strategic-plan-2026 https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/o/ccs/page/the-cumberland-commitment-strategic-plan-2026 https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/o/ccs/page/the-cumberland-commitment-strategic-plan-2026 https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/o/ccs/page/the-cumberland-commitment-strategic-plan-2026 https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/o/ccs/page/the-cumberland-commitment-strategic-plan-2026

7 45 3,700

8 45 3,900

9 45 4,500

10 45 4,200

May you please provide projected teacher counts (by grade) for 2025-26?

Please see the table above.

For the most accurate pricing, could the District provide estimated student and teacher counts by grade level?

These are estimates. However, it should be understood that CCS is not limited to the initial needs and the number of users in any given year, and contracts should include a clause for covering normal and

7 45 3,700

8 45 3,900

9 45 4,500

10 45 4,200

On page 3 of the RFP, the dates reference providing materials for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Can the District confirm the years of desired

Adoption is for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

implementation?

What curriculum does the District currently use for grades 6-8?

Cumberland County Schools has designed our 6-8 Curriculum using a variety of vendor resources.

What curriculum does the District currently use for grades K-5?

Cumberland County Schools has designed our K-5 Curriculum using a variety of vendor resources.

Could you also share additional clarification of what is needed for “licensing status with the state of NC and

BOE.”

That should not have been included in the RFP and is not a requirement. An addendum will be created noting the change.

Would the district be interested in using novels in their classes or will it be more of a “thematic” process/curriculum?

We are open to using novels. Our curriculum is paced by standard, not theme, and any resource purchased will be leveraged to fit in our existing instructional framework.