Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 12/8/2022 - 5:30 PM
Category: ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Type: Action
Subject: 3. Approval of Areas to Be Opened for Textbook Study During the 2022-2023 School Year
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
Goal 2
Student, Family and Community Engagement
Goal 3
Effective and Efficient Operations
Policy: Admin Policy 7.26 - Textbooks/Instructional Materials Adoption
Attachments
File Attachment:
Background: MPS Administrative Policy 7.26 and Administrative Procedure 7.26, Textbooks/Instructional Materials Adoption, provides that as adoptions near expiration, the Administration shall report the subject areas, along with the titles of the textbooks/instructional materials for which adopted textbooks/instructional materials have been in use seven years or more and may be discontinued at the end of the following school year.

In order to provide for inclusion and alignment to the district’s Ambitious Instruction plan, general criteria for textbooks/instructional materials evaluation are provided to the textbooks/instructional materials evaluation committees. These criteria include availability of Spanish partner language and high-quality materials for use in bilingual classrooms as well as French, German, Italian, and Spanish for use in immersion classrooms; alignment to the district’s literacy and language-development goals; and alignment to adopted standards and graduation requirements. In addition, each evaluation committee will develop its own specific criteria applicable to the subject area under consideration.

The Administration is recommending opening the following subject areas for adoption study during the 2022-23 school year:
Music
Music Grades 6-12
Writing
K-12 Writing
K-5 Handwriting
K-5 Spelling
K-5 Handwriting, Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in Spanish
6-12 Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in Spanish
K-5 Handwriting, Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in French, German, Italian, and Spanish
6-8 Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in French, German, and Spanish

Social Studies
Psychology (English and Spanish)
Sociology
Ethnic Studies (English and Spanish)
Contemporary World Affairs
Justice and You (English and Spanish)
African American History
Latin American History (English and Spanish)
AP World History
AP Human Geography
AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP Psychology
AP U.S. History
Fiscal Impact Statement: This item does not authorize expenditures. The estimated cost of implementing the textbook adoption for these areas is $16,500,000 - Music: $2,000,000, Writing: $10,000,000, which includes $1,000,000 for professional development, and Social Studies: $4,500,000.
Implementation and Assessment Plan The procedures listed below will be implemented following Board action with respect to opening subject areas for textbook adoption study.
a. When a subject area is to be opened for adoption, an evaluation committee led by a curriculum specialist shall be established to study and evaluate available materials and make recommendations to the Superintendent concerning textbook/instructional materials adoptions for the subject areas.

b. Principals and teachers are notified.

c. Parents are notified and invited to serve on the parent advisory committee for textbook/instructional material evaluation. In addition, community organizations such as the District Advisory Committee, La Causa, United Community Center, NAACP and Urban League are invited to send parent representatives. In an effort to further increase parent involvement in the textbook/instructional material evaluation process, the Administration will also solicit parents through School Governance Councils.

d. Publishers are notified.

e. Teacher nominations and expressions of interest in serving on textbook/instructional materials evaluation committees for the various subject areas are obtained.

f. Textbook/instructional materials evaluation committees are appointed.

g. Curriculum specialists provide training for textbook/instructional material evaluation committee members on selecting culturally responsive materials that promote critical thinking.

h. Curriculum specialists establish criteria for evaluating materials, based on the most recent literature and research related to instruction in that area. The specialists obtain and evaluate available materials; meet with parents, publishers, representatives; and solicit reactions and assistance from other teachers, department chairpersons, curriculum committees, etc.

i. Curriculum Specialists and the Department of Procurement review the proposals submitted by the textbook/instructional material publisher.

j. Textbook/instructional materials evaluation committees formulate recommendations with respect to the subject areas and the materials under evaluation for possible adoption and present the recommendations for textbooks/instructional materials adoptions to the superintendent in a confidential report. The textbook/instructional materials evaluation committee may recommend a single, dual, or multiple adoptions for a subject/course or; they may recommend delaying adoption pending further study.

Based upon the proposed timeline, textbook/instructional material evaluation committees would be appointed no later than February 2023. The committee will conduct the study during the months of February, March, and April and submit a recommendation to the Superintendent in April 2023. After considering the evaluation committee's report, the Superintendent will submit recommendations to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors for consideration in May 2023.
Recommendation: The Administration recommends that the Board approve the following areas to be opened for textbook study for texts to be used during the 2023-2024 school year:
Music Grades 6-12, K-12 Writing, K-5 Handwriting, K-5 Spelling, K-5 Handwriting, Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in Spanish, 6-12 Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in Spanish, K-5 Handwriting, Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in French, German, Italian, and Spanish, 6-8 Spelling, Grammar, and Writing in French, German, and Spanish, Psychology, Sociology, Ethnic Studies, Contemporary World Affairs, Justice and You, African American History, Latin American History, AP World History, AP Human Geography, AP US Government and Politics, AP Psychology, and AP U.S History.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Renee Laird Adelon - Curriculum Specialist IV
Signed By:
Felicia Saffold, Ed.D. - Senior Director, Curriculum & Instruction
Signed By:
Jennifer Mims Howell - Chief Academic Officer
Signed By:
Keith Posley, Ed.D. - Superintendent