The Henry County Board of Education voted at its Aug. 13 regular meeting to approve adoption of a program for kindergarten phonics instruction at a cost of $158,383.76.

The move means that “McGraw Hill: Open Court Reading-Foundational Resources” will be used at all of the district’s elementary schools. Seven publishers responded to the district’s request for tender, and a 20-day public review period saw 114 people provide feedback including about 56 percent of kindergarten or support teachers, according to district staff.

The total cost represented a 31 percent discount from the list price and includes $20,000 in free professional development from the publisher, staff noted.