Board briefed on curriculum-adoption cycle and effect of vendor fees on available materials

District staff described how the state’s adoption process works and how the district evaluates materials.

According to the presentation, the state sends a schedule indicating which content area is up for adoption in a given year; the district assembles an adoption committee with representatives across grade bands and sometimes pilots programs before making a recommendation to the board. "The state comes up with a list of approved curriculums that we get to choose from," the presenter said. Districts can pursue an independent adoption only if none of the approved options meet local needs.

Staff also told the board that recent legislation requires vendors to pay a significant fee for their materials to be considered on the state adoption list. "In order for vendors to be on the adoption list they had to pay OD a pretty significant fee which I don't think any of us understood ... I want to say it was like a $40,000 fee," the presenter said. Board members noted that a high fee could reduce the number of vendors on the list and limit options for smaller districts.

No adoption vote occurred. Staff said they would host a caravan (a review session) and arrange committee meetings and pilots as part of the district’s adoption process for social studies and other subjects up for review.