DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 23
January 25, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy
K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Textbook
and Instructional Materials Adoption Schedule for History and Social Science,
Mathematics, English, Science, and Foreign Languages |
The Virginia Board of
Education approved a new textbook and instructional materials adoption schedule
for mathematics, English, science, and foreign languages on January 10,
2008. Previously, at the March 29, 2007,
Board of Education meeting, the history and social science adoption schedule
was approved.
The Board of Education’s authority for approving
textbooks and other instructional materials is prescribed in the Virginia
Constitution and in the Code of Virginia. The Board of Education’s Regulations Governing Textbook Adoption specifies the types of
materials that may be adopted.
It [the Board of Education] shall have authority to
approve textbooks and instructional aids and materials for use in courses in
the public schools of the Commonwealth.
Code of
The Board of Education shall
approve textbooks suitable for use in the public schools and shall have
authority to approve instructional aids and materials for use in the public
schools. Any school board may use
textbooks not approved by the Board provided the school board selects such
books in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board.
Regulations
Governing Textbook Adoption 8 VAC 20-220-30
Only those materials which are designed to provide basic support
for the instructional program of a particular content area at an appropriate
level will be adopted.
Generally, state textbook adoption in a Standards
of Learning subject area should be conducted shortly after the standards
are revised. Based on the schedule of
the Standards of Learning reviews
outlined in the Board’s strategic plan, a timeline for state textbook and
instructional materials adoptions has been approved. The timeline will synchronize the state
textbook adoptions and the Standards of
Learning reviews.
Attachment A
provides a chart with the adoption timelines for history and social science,
mathematics, English, science, and foreign languages.
For further information,
please contact Dr. Beverly Thurston, coordinator of history and social science,
Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Beverly.Thurston@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 225-2893.
BKCJr/BT/yba
a. Textbook and Instructional Materials Adoption Schedule (.pdf)