Nashville, TN – New K-12 social studies textbooks proposed for use in Tennessee public schools during the 2014-15 school year are on display in 10 district textbook collection sites located across the state.
As in past years, the public can review all textbooks at any time during the six-year adoption period, but public comments on the proposed social studies textbooks must be submitted by September 11th, 2013, to be considered by the publisher. Forms are available at each site for public input.
The 10 textbook collection sites also house all the books on the approved list for all subject areas.Morgan Branch, director of textbook services, encouraged parents, family members, educators, and the general public to visit the textbook sites and to participate in the review process.
“It is very important for the public to have access to the textbooks under consideration,” Branch said. “Our goal is to provide a wide variety of materials that enrich and support the curriculum and address students’ varied interests, abilities, and learning styles.”
In addition to citizen input, a state review committee of teachers is assisting the Tennessee Textbook Commission members with their evaluation of the textbooks. Commission members can also use the professional expertise of teachers in their local school systems.
For the Clarksville area, the Student Text, Teacher’s Edition, and Ancillaries Bid For Contract will be available for viewing at the Austin Peay State University Learning Resource Center located at 681 Summer Street, Clarksville, TN.
After the commission’s September 16th, 2013, meeting, a workshop will be held for textbook publishers to respond to the reviews of their books and to answer questions from a representative panel of the reviewers and commission members.
At their October 2013 meeting, commission members will vote on the new editions to recommend to the State Board of Education for the 2013 official list of textbooks, after which state board members will make the final decision on the official list. Local school systems can then choose which textbooks to adopt from the official state textbook list for a six-year period.
Citizens interested in reviewing the proposed social studies textbooks should contact the director of the textbook collection site in their area.
Public comments regarding the proposed social studies textbooks should be sent to Morgan Branch, director of textbook services, Tennessee Department of Education, 11th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0379 by September 11th, 2013. Citizens with questions about the process may email Morgan.Branch@tn.gov or call 615.253.3160.
For more information, please contact Kelli Gauthier at 615.532.7817 or Kelli.Gauthier@tn.gov.
District Textbook Collection Sites | |||
Site | Plan | Contact | Address |
Official Sample Site and Mid-Cumberland District |
Plan OS | Kim Ralston | Curriculum Library Box 13, Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN 37132 (615) 898-2543 Kim.Ralston@mtsu.edu |
First Tennessee District | Plan B | Malenia Truelove | Sherrod Library, Acquisitions Department, East Tennessee State University Wars-Pickel Hall, War-Pickel Drive P. O. Box 70684 Johnson City, TN 37614-1701 (423) 439-5815 Truelove@etsu.edu |
Northwest Tennessee District | Plan C | Cindy Gaylord | Paul Meek Library, University of Tennessee 10 Wayne Fisher Drive Martin, TN 38238 (731) 881-7078 |
East Tennessee District | Plan C | Bonnie Maples | Technology Enhanced Curriculum Laboratory, University of Tennessee A401 Bailey Education Complex Knoxville, TN 37996-3440 (865) 874-8143 bmaples@utk.edu |
Upper Cumberland District | Plan C | Dr. Carl Owens | Learning Resources Center, Tennessee Tech University Bartoo Hall, Room 204 Cookeville, TN 38505 (931) 372-3851 cowens@tntech.edu |
Mid-Cumberland District | Plan C | Katie Richie | Learning Resource Center, Austin Peay State University 681 Summer Street Clarksville, TN 37040 (931)-221-7582 richiek@apsu.edu |
Mid-Cumberland District | Plan B | Debra Jackson | College of Education Curriculum Laboratory, Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209-1561 (615) 963-5480 djackson@tnstate.edu |
Southeast Tennessee District | Plan B | Valarie Adams | Lupton Library, University of Tennessee/Chattanooga 615 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37403 (423) 425-4095 valarie-adams@utc.edu |
Memphis Delta District | Plan C | Ernie Rakow | Learning Resources Center, University of Memphis Ball Education Building, Room 320 Memphis, TN 38152 (901) 678-2362 erakow@memphis.edu |
Plan A: Student Text Only Plan B: Student Text and Teacher’s Edition Only Plan C: Student Text, Teacher’s Edition, and Ancillaries Bid For Contract Plan OS: Official Sample Collection, All Materials Bid, Including Priced and Free Materials |