Textbooks Available for Public Review, Department Seeks Input

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 | 06:57am

NASHVILLE – Textbooks being considered for use in Tennessee public schools beginning with the 2010-11 school year are now on display in ten district textbook collection sites located across the state (see chart below). Tennessee is in the process of adopting new textbooks in the areas of English Grammar and Composition, English as a Second Language and Foreign Languages.

Citizens interested in reviewing the textbooks being considered should contact the director of the textbook collection site in their area.

“This is an opportunity for parents, educators, and community members to give valued feedback on the tools used in student learning,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “We encourage all stakeholders to participate in the process.”

In addition to citizen input, a state review committee of thirty public school 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.

“It is very important for the public to have access to the textbooks under consideration," said Morgan Branch, Director of Textbook Services for the State Department of Education. “Our goal is to provide a wide variety of materials that enrich and support the curriculum and to address the varied interests, abilities and learning styles of students.”

Commission members will meet September 14-15 to discuss public feedback and also invite textbook publishers to respond to the reviews of their books and to answer questions from commission members.  The commission will vote October 12 on the new editions to recommend to the State Board of Education for the 2009 Official List of Textbooks.

State Board of Education members make the final decision for the official list. Local school systems can then adopt textbooks from the official state textbook list for a six-year period.

Public comments should be sent to Morgan Branch, Director of Textbook Services, Tennessee Department of Education, 5th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0379 before the September meeting. Citizens with questions about the process may also call Morgan Branch at 615-253-3160.

--more—

 


OFFICIAL SAMPLE SITE
and
MID-CUMBERLAND DISTRICT
 PLAN OS
Acting Commissioner Timothy Webb/ATTN: Sue Thetford
Curriculum Library, Box 150
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
(615) 898-2543
e-mail: sthetfor@mtsu.edu

FIRST TENNESSEE DISTRICT            PLAN B
Ms. Debbie O’Brien, Acquisitions Librarian
Sherrod Library, Acquisitions Dept.
East Tennessee State University
Lake St. & Seehorn Drive, Box 70665
Johnson City, TN 37614-1701
(423) 439-5815
e-mail: obriend@etsu.edu

 

NORTHWEST TENNESSEE DISTRICT    PLAN C
Ms. Cindy Gaylord
University of Tennessee
Paul Meek Library
10 Wayne Fisher Drive
Martin, TN 38238
(731) 881-7078
e-mail: cgaylord@utm.edu

EAST TENNESSEE DISTRICT             PLAN C
Ms. Bonnie Maples
Technology Enhanced Curriculum Laboratory
University of Tennessee
401 A Claxton Addition
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-8143
e-mail: 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
e-mail: cowens@tntech.edu

MID-CUMBERLAND DISTRICT             PLAN C
Ms. Christa Beckner
Learning Resources Center
Austin Peay State University
104 Claxton Building
Clarksville, TN 37044
(931) 221-7546 or 7547
e-mail: becknerc@apsu.edu

 

MID-CUMBERLAND DISTRICT                PLAN B
Ms. Debra Jackson
Tennessee State University/College of Education
Curriculum Laboratory
3500 John Merritt Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209-1561
(615) 963-5480
e-mail: djackson@tnstate.edu

SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE DISTRICT   PLAN B
Ms. Valarie Adams
Lupton Library
University of Tennessee/Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4095
e-mail: valarie-adams@utc.edu

 

SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE DISTRICT    PLAN B
Mr. Scott Cohen
Library
Jackson State Community College
2046 North Parkway
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 425-2615
e-mail: scohen@jscc.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
e-mail: 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

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@tn.gov.                                    ###

Press Releases | Education