SUMMARY:  LC 33 6192   LC 33 6397S LC 336430S/AP Relating to state and local adoption of instructional materials and content:

• permits, rather than requires the State Board of Education to utilize committees of educators actually engaged in public school work to examine and recommend instructional materials and content for use in public schools
• if the State Board elects to provide for state approved instructional materials and content, the State Board must establish a review and recommendation process that includes:
  • opportunity for public comment and parental input prior to the adoption of any proposed instructional materials and content
  • posting of a list on its website of proposed instructional materials and content for public review, including version or edition number, the state funded course number, and the identification number
  • all state approved materials must be made available for review upon request
  • designation of an employee to serve as the contact person for inquiries related to requests for review of materials
• requires local boards of education to establish a review and recommendation process for any locally approved instructional materials and content that are adopted or used by the school system or or school that constitutes the principal source of study for a state funded course.
  •  does not include supplementary or ancillary material adopted by a local board or used by a local school system (articles, worksheets novels, biographies, speeches videos, music etc.)

      The local process shall include:

• opportunity for public comment and parental input prior to the adoption of any proposed instructional materials and content, including notice to parents by the most practical means 
• posting of a list on the system website and each school website of proposed instructional materials and content, including version or edition number, the state funded course number, and the identification number
• posting a list on the system and individual school websites of locally approved instructional materials and content used by the school system or school, including version or edition number, the state funded course number, and the identification number
• all materials, including any supplementary or ancillary material used by the school system must be made available for review upon request
• designation of an employee to serve as the contact person for inquiries related to requests for review of materials

 EFFECTIVE DATE:  

July 1, 2017 if approved by the General Assembly and Governor.