Yesterday, the Texas State Board of Education held a public hearing on the instructional materials submitted for state adoption this year. Not surprisingly, most of the testimony focused on science textbooks, and in particular biology textbooks.
Historically, only products that addressed 100 percent of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) were eligible for state adoption. However, in 2011, the legislature changed the law to make products that address at least 50 percent of the TEKS eligible for state adoption.
As a result, 516 products were submitted for state adoption this spring. Those products address K-8 mathematics, K-12 science or technology applications. Over the course of the review process, some products were withdrawn. However, almost 165 K-8 math products and almost 300 K-12 science products have gone through the state adoption process, many, many more than ever before.
The state adoption list will verify the percentage of state standards addressed by each product. But, how are educators going to tell 164 math K-8 products or 299 K-12 science products apart? And, don’t forget that there are hundreds of products available that were not submitted for state adoption. Learning List is here to help!
Learning List is a professional resource review service that helps educators and parents select the K-12 instructional materials and online courses best suited for their students. Learning List will debut at the TASA/TASB Convention in Dallas next week. Stay tuned….