1Georgia Department of Education Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services Textbook Coordinator Everything You Wanted to Know about Textbooks…

2Georgia Department of Education Web Site PageReq=CIServBooks PageReq=CIServBooks

3Georgia Department of Education Background Georgia's Legislative Provision of 1937, known as the Free Textbook Law, directed the Georgia Board of Education to provide textbooks for use in the elementary, middle, and high schools. Georgia's Legislative Provision of 1937, known as the Free Textbook Law, directed the Georgia Board of Education to provide textbooks for use in the elementary, middle, and high schools. In order that the core instructional materials are of the highest quality, the state board has established procedures for evaluating and recommending textbooks in state-funded courses (Georgia Board of Education Rules and ). In order that the core instructional materials are of the highest quality, the state board has established procedures for evaluating and recommending textbooks in state-funded courses (Georgia Board of Education Rules and ).

4Georgia Department of Education Georgia – State Textbook Recommendation Process Instructional Materials Instructional Materials 6-Year Cycle 6-Year Cycle State List one year; State List one year; Systems adopt next Systems adopt next ’06-’07 List(K-8 Math) ’06-’07 List(K-8 Math) ’07-’08 List(K-12 Science & 9-12 Math) ’07-’08 List(K-12 Science & 9-12 Math)

5Georgia Department of Education State Recommendation Process  Intent to Bid from Publishers  Publishers Submit Full Information  State Textbook Advisory Committee  Publisher Presentations  13 Evaluation Sites  Recommendations to State Board

6Georgia Department of Education Evaluation Sites State Textbook Advisory Committee State Textbook Advisory Committee Evaluation Forms Evaluation Forms Compile Forms Compile Forms Make Recommendations to State Board Make Recommendations to State Board

7Georgia Department of Education Re-Aligned Adoption Cycle K-8 Mathematics K-12 Science 9-12 Mathematics K-8 English/Language Arts K-12 Health and Physical Education English/Language Arts K-12 Foreign Language & ESOL K-12 Fine Arts and Social Studies Career, Technical and Agricultural Education

8Georgia Department of Education Advantages of Process – ABCs A vailability – materials stored in GA A vailability – materials stored in GA B inding - NASTA Specs B inding - NASTA Specs C orrelation – GA Curriculum C orrelation – GA Curriculum C ost – Price Fixed for 6 Years C ost – Price Fixed for 6 Years

9Georgia Department of Education SAVING MONEY Distributors List – Check It! Distributors List – Check It!

10Georgia Department of Education What Else? Computerized Files for Braille Conversion Computerized Files for Braille Conversion GA Instructional Materials Center GA Instructional Materials Centerwww.gimc.org Electronic Versions - Student Textbooks Electronic Versions - Student Textbooks

11Georgia Department of Education What about materials? What about materials? Using state $$$ to buy materials: Using state $$$ to buy materials: State money must be obligated by June 30. State money must be obligated by June 30. May be used on subject areas other than specified areas. May be used on subject areas other than specified areas. Systems may split between grade levels. Systems may split between grade levels. 18 months: The supposed length of time during which LEA adopts textbooks, NOT tied to $$$. 18 months: The supposed length of time during which LEA adopts textbooks, NOT tied to $$$.

12Georgia Department of Education What about materials? Publisher agreement with state (K-8 Math) Set price & materials Valid April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2013 Price holds whenever LEA enters contract If LEA wants to extend contract past 2013 Ask publisher for extension of state bid price

13Georgia Department of Education TIPS on Textbook Adoption

14Georgia Department of Education Remember That the Textbook Is a Resource, Not the Curriculum Look closely at your local curriculum and do any needed revisions before you begin your textbook selection process. Look closely at your local curriculum and do any needed revisions before you begin your textbook selection process.

15Georgia Department of Education Look at a Series, Not at a Book Your committee should select the series which best matches your curriculum. No series has everything, and every series has more than you need. Make sure that you make a selection based on a review of the entire series, not based on just one book at one grade level. Your committee should select the series which best matches your curriculum. No series has everything, and every series has more than you need. Make sure that you make a selection based on a review of the entire series, not based on just one book at one grade level.

16Georgia Department of Education Look at the Words, Not at the Pictures Look at the Words, Not at the Pictures Pictures are important for young readers, but the textbook committee should look at the content, not at the glitter. Pictures are important for young readers, but the textbook committee should look at the content, not at the glitter. Sometimes what is pleasing to the eye does not enhance the brain. Sometimes what is pleasing to the eye does not enhance the brain.

17Georgia Department of Education Base Selections on Core Materials, Not on Ancillaries Teachers may want to know what comes “free” with the series. In reality, nothing is free. The resources you know teachers will use daily are the student edition and the teacher edition. Many times the elaborate ancillary package is rarely used. Teachers may want to know what comes “free” with the series. In reality, nothing is free. The resources you know teachers will use daily are the student edition and the teacher edition. Many times the elaborate ancillary package is rarely used.

18Georgia Department of Education Choose Staff Development The success of a textbook implementation depends on whether teachers know how to use the materials. If you obtain more comprehensive staff development, you will more likely have a successful implementation. The success of a textbook implementation depends on whether teachers know how to use the materials. If you obtain more comprehensive staff development, you will more likely have a successful implementation.

19Georgia Department of Education Provide Teachers With Time to Evaluate Provide Teachers With Time to Evaluate Given no time to evaluate, many teachers will simply do the “thumb test” to select textbooks. Teachers should be able to do skills and concept traces to make sure that the crucial elements they teach are enhanced and continued at each grade level. Provide enough time for teams of teachers to examine the entire book at each grade level. Given no time to evaluate, many teachers will simply do the “thumb test” to select textbooks. Teachers should be able to do skills and concept traces to make sure that the crucial elements they teach are enhanced and continued at each grade level. Provide enough time for teams of teachers to examine the entire book at each grade level.

20Georgia Department of Education Go With What the Teachers Want Go With What the Teachers Want If you trust your teachers to examine the books and make a decision, respect the decision they make. If you trust your teachers to examine the books and make a decision, respect the decision they make.

21Georgia Department of Education Possible Timeline In year prior to adoption: February/March February/March (1) Set up and meet with curriculum committees for revision. (2) Define curriculum and look at the current curriculum. (3) Look at scope and sequence, format, and content. (4) Establish a survey to determine strengths and weaknesses of the current curriculum. April/May April/May (1) Get results of curriculum survey.

22Georgia Department of Education Possible Timeline In year of adoption: July July (1) Review results of curriculum survey. (2) Revise, restructure, rewrite curriculum guides. (2) Revise, restructure, rewrite curriculum guides. (3) Issue new guides in draft form to use for one year. (3) Issue new guides in draft form to use for one year. August August (1) Establish criteria for evaluating books. (2) Establish guidelines and procedures for adoption. (2) Establish guidelines and procedures for adoption.

23Georgia Department of Education Possible Timeline In year of adoption: September September (1) Establish descriptors for each criterion (2) Look at methods of evaluation (2) Look at methods of evaluation November November (1) Ask publishers to begin sampling books to schools February February (1) Get evaluations from schools (2) Eliminate to three series (2) Eliminate to three series

24Georgia Department of Education Possible Timeline In year of adoption: March March (1) Hear presentations from publishers and choose series (1) Hear presentations from publishers and choose series March/April March/April (1) Submit choice(s) for local school board approval (1) Submit choice(s) for local school board approval April April (1) Order books (1) Order books

25Georgia Department of Education Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services Textbook Coordinator Georgia Department of Education 1754 Twin Towers East Atlanta, GA Fax