Division of Curriculum and
Instructional Services
Everything You
Wanted to Know
about
Textbooks…
Textbook Coordinator
404-651-7272
Georgia Department of Education
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Web Site
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_services.aspx?
PageReq=CIServBooks
Georgia Department of Education
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Background
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Georgia's Legislative Provision of 1937, known as the
Free Textbook Law, directed the Georgia Board of
Education to provide textbooks for use in the
elementary, middle, and high schools.
In order that the core instructional materials are of
the highest quality, the state board has established
procedures for evaluating and recommending
textbooks in state-funded courses (Georgia Board of
Education Rules 160-4-4-.10 and 160-4-4-.20).
Georgia Department of Education
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Georgia –
State Textbook
Recommendation Process
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Instructional Materials
6-Year Cycle
State List one year;
Systems adopt next
’06-’07 List(K-8 Math)
’07-’08 List(K-12 Science & 9-12 Math)
Georgia Department of Education
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State
Recommendation
Process
Intent to Bid from Publishers
 Publishers Submit Full Information
 State Textbook Advisory Committee
 Publisher Presentations
 13 Evaluation Sites
 Recommendations to State Board

Georgia Department of Education
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Evaluation Sites
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State Textbook Advisory Committee
Evaluation Forms
Compile Forms
Make Recommendations to State
Board
Georgia Department of Education
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Re-Aligned Adoption Cycle
20062007
K-8 Mathematics
20072008
K-12 Science
9-12 Mathematics
20082009
K-8 English/Language Arts
K-12 Health and Physical Education
20092010
9-12 English/Language Arts
K-12 Foreign Language & ESOL
20102011
K-12 Fine Arts and Social Studies
20112012
6-12 Career, Technical and Agricultural
Education
Georgia Department of Education
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Advantages of Process –
ABCs
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Availability – materials stored
in GA
Binding - NASTA Specs
Correlation – GA Curriculum
Cost – Price Fixed for 6 Years
Georgia Department of Education
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SAVING MONEY
Distributors List –
Check It!
Georgia Department of Education
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What Else?
Computerized Files for Braille Conversion
GA Instructional Materials Center
www.gimc.org
Electronic Versions - Student Textbooks
Georgia Department of Education
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What about materials?
Using state $$$ to buy materials:
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State money must be obligated by June 30.
May be used on subject areas other than
specified areas.
Systems may split between grade levels.
18 months: The supposed length of time
during which LEA adopts textbooks, NOT tied
to $$$.
Georgia Department of Education
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What about materials?
Publisher agreement with state (K-8 Math)
•Set price & materials
•Valid April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2013
•Price holds whenever LEA enters contract
If LEA wants to extend contract past 2013
•Ask publisher for extension of state bid price
Georgia Department of Education
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TIPS
on
Textbook
Adoption
Georgia Department of Education
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Remember That the Textbook Is
a Resource, Not the Curriculum

Look closely at your local curriculum and
do any needed revisions before you
begin your textbook selection process.
Georgia Department of Education
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Look at a Series, Not at a Book
Your committee should select the
series which best matches your
curriculum. No series has everything,
and every series has more than you
need. Make sure that you make a
selection based on a review of the
entire series, not based on just one
book at one grade level.
Georgia Department of Education
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Look at the Words,
Not at the Pictures
Pictures are important for young
readers, but the textbook committee
should look at the content, not at the
glitter.
Sometimes what is pleasing to the eye
does not enhance the brain.
Georgia Department of Education
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Base Selections on Core
Materials, Not on Ancillaries
Teachers may want to know what comes
“free” with the series. In reality, nothing
is free. The resources you know teachers
will use daily are the student edition and
the teacher edition. Many times the
elaborate ancillary package is rarely used.
Georgia Department of Education
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Choose Staff Development
The success of a textbook
implementation depends on whether
teachers know how to use the materials.
If you obtain more comprehensive staff
development, you will more likely have a
successful implementation.
Georgia Department of Education
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Provide Teachers With
Time to Evaluate

Given no time to evaluate, many teachers will
simply do the “thumb test” to select
textbooks. Teachers should be able to do
skills and concept traces to make sure that
the crucial elements they teach are enhanced
and continued at each grade level. Provide
enough time for teams of teachers to
examine the entire book at each grade level.
Georgia Department of Education
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Go With What
the Teachers Want
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If you trust your teachers to examine
the books and make a decision, respect
the decision they make.
Georgia Department of Education
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Possible Timeline
In year prior to adoption:
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February/March
(1) Set up and meet with curriculum committees
for revision.
(2) Define curriculum and look at the current
curriculum.
(3) Look at scope and sequence, format, and
content.
(4) Establish a survey to determine strengths and
weaknesses of the current curriculum.
April/May
(1) Get results of curriculum survey.
Georgia Department of Education
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Possible Timeline
In year of adoption:
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July
(1) Review results of curriculum survey.
(2) Revise, restructure, rewrite curriculum guides.
(3) Issue new guides in draft form to use for one
year.
August
(1) Establish criteria for evaluating books.
(2) Establish guidelines and procedures for adoption.
Georgia Department of Education
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Possible Timeline
In year of adoption:
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September
(1) Establish descriptors for each criterion
(2) Look at methods of evaluation
November
(1) Ask publishers to begin sampling books to schools
February
(1) Get evaluations from schools
(2) Eliminate to three series
Georgia Department of Education
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Possible Timeline
In year of adoption:
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March
(1) Hear presentations from publishers and choose
series
March/April
(1) Submit choice(s) for local school board approval
April
(1) Order books
Georgia Department of Education
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Division of Curriculum and
Instructional Services
Textbook Coordinator
Georgia Department of Education
1754 Twin Towers East
Atlanta, GA 30334-5040
404-651-7272
Fax 404-656-5744
Georgia Department of Education
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