The chart below shows the path taken toward deciding the commitment level the district should make:
Of the several applications cited above some have been in existence for a long time (SDOL, Luisa) with others revitalized after not much attention (MAP, Compass Learning), some of questionable importance (Illuminate), and some new (GAFE). The extent to which these applications and systems allow the users to better perform their jobs will determine their priority.
In trying to decide the priority of the applications, we would need to determine each application's use value and return on investment. Stakeholders involved will need to play a role in providing information as to how frequently the applications are used, on route to laying out a need to a continued commitment. Surveys can be used and meetings held where information can be exchanged, and opinions shared. Once this information has been analyzed, it would suit the needs of the district to extend the research outwards to like districts to get an impression of best practices. At that point, Cabinet, including the superintendent, both principals, the directors of technology, human resources, special education and maintenance, would meet to decide the priority each application were to receive.
All of the applications are CORE products, being extensively used by teachers: Canvas on a daily basis to deliver and collect assignments as well as information to parents -- we will need to make sure that accommodations are made to have it communicate with SDOL, our student information system; MAP and Compass Learning are well used, and recently have been invigorated through updates to the program and relaunching in professional development; MAP's direct correlation with SBAC gives it validity and life; SDOL has a problem in that reports do not populate from one to the other in the way a standard spreadsheet application does, so reentry of data is burdensome -- additionally, it is standalone in that it is not used by the high school district into which students feed.