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We are implementing a smoother operating system, called SpendBridge, with new features to allow for more transparency for us and users regarding purchases, approved items and to submit vendor service invoices. While we work toward that heightened functionality, we do ask for your patience and understanding as we make and communicate changes about the Learning Fund.
Right now, the Learning Fund is open for core curriculum and technology selection, and that selection will be done during your ILP meeting with your teacher. We will open it up for other selections later this summer and in the school year.
During your first meeting with your teacher, they will discuss the Learning Fund with you. Curriculum and any technology your child needs are deducted from your Learning Fund. However, the amounts deducted aren’t those that you see in an actual retail store and most of our families are able to do a lot with their Learning Funds. Moreover, we are a free public school and provide the academic essentials for all students to have a quality education. We do not collect any funds from you for your child’s education.
Supplemental curriculum is on its way.
Our list of supplemental curriculums, including school supplies, has been finalized and is in the last stages of being uploaded to SpendBridge (our new operating system for the Learning Fund). We intend for this to be operational for you no later than September 1. You will notice that some supplementals have been removed. This was not our choice and is due to a supplemental vendor being unable to immediately integrate its systems to our software. It is always possible that those vendors will eventually be able to do so but not by September 1, 2021.
Off-Menu purchases available by November.
All off-menu orders will be available by November in SpendBridge. Normally, these are ready to go by the beginning of the school year. While much work was done this summer as we transitioned to public management of the Learning Fund, we are still working to build out catalogues for off-menu purchases. We do appreciate your patience. The good news is that SpendBridge will allow us to have a direct link and order selection for our off-menu items. You will no longer have to copy and paste a URL that is subject to change or done incorrectly to make your order.
Other good news: We will also have a list of all approved items that can be purchased through the Learning Fund. So when you see a listing in the off-menu catalogue, including Amazon items, you will know it is already pre-approved, which we believe could reduce your wait time. Aside from Amazon, there will be other vendor catalogues integrated into the off-menu Learning Fund catalogue, including Teaching Textbooks, Power Homeschool, Lakeshore, KiwiCo and many more.
Service Vendor Utilization will still be available.
Beyond curriculum and technology, if you wish to purchase an educational item using your Learning Fund, you do so by logging into Parent Portal and completing the Learning Fund ordering form. ( We’ll be discussing more about the Parent Portal in our next orientation email to you .) Should you wish to use the Learning Fund for extracurricular activities, approved vendors are listed in our Vendor Directory. New vendors are added throughout the year, so if you have a vendor you would like to be added to the directory, encourage the vendor to apply. The form to apply is located on the EPIC website at the same link as our Vendor Directory.
We have received many calls, emails, and text messages this year about the status of our vendor services. We have great news. This will still be a Learning Fund option for our students. However, the process is different. The letter at this link was sent to our vendors and details the changes in how they must invoice. We encourage you to read it so you are aware of actions and procedures vendors must take for us to be in compliance with best practices for public management of the Learning Fund.
We appreciate your family. Please not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Chandler Winningham
Learning Fund Director
405-749-4550, ext. 281
chandler.winningham@epiccharterschools.org
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