Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-4-4-.20 - Instructional Materials Advisory Committee
(1)
DEFINITIONS.
(a)
Learning Resources -
instructional materials and content to include but not be limited to
systematically designed material in any medium, including digital instructional
materials and content and any computer hardware, software, and technical
equipment necessary to support such instructional materials and content, that
constitutes the principal source of study for a state funded course to be used
in the various grades in the public schools of this state, including the
elementary grades and high school grades. Learning resources include textbooks,
ebooks, software, on-line material and programs and specialized formats, i.e.,
Braille, audio, digital, DVDs, large-print or other versions. Instructional
resources shall also include any materials previously defined by the State
Board as "textbook/instructional materials." The Board does not intend any
change in this rule to have any effect on current or past textbook
contracts.
(b)
State Learning
Resources Advisory Committee (state committee) - individuals recommended
by State Board members and the state superintendent of schools and approved by
the State Board to examine learning resources and to make
recommendations.
(c)
State
learning resources recommendation (state recommendation) - those
learning resources that have been approved by the State Board of Education on
recommendations from the state committee, that identifies those learning
resources that may be purchased by local school systems with state
funds.
(2)
REQUIREMENTS.
(a) The State Board
of Education may select a committee or committees of educators actually engaged
in public school work in this state to examine instructional materials and
content and make recommendations thereon to the state board. Such committee or
committees may consist of such number of educators as the state board may deem
advisable. They may serve for such time and for such duties as the state board
may prescribe and may receive such compensation as may be fixed by the state
board.
(b) In the event that the
State Board of Education elects to provide for state approved instructional
materials and content, the State Board of Education shall establish a review
and recommendation process in accordance with this paragraph. Such process
shall include the opportunity for public comment and parental input prior to
the adoption of any proposed instructional materials and content. As part of
such process, the State Board of Education shall post in a prominent location
on its website a list of proposed instructional materials and content for
public review, including the version or edition number, if applicable; the
state-funded course number for which the instructional resource will be used;
and the identification number, in accordance with any guidelines established by
the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall make all state
approved instructional materials and content available for review upon request
and may specify reasonable hours for review. If state instructional materials
and content are approved, the state board shall designate at least one employee
to serve as the contact person for any inquiries related to or requests for
review of state approved instructional materials and content and to coordinate
its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under this
subsection.
(c) Each state
committee shall be approved by the state board and shall be composed of members
representative of the subject area(s)/grade(s) being recommended. They shall be
selected from each congressional district by State Board members and from the
state at large by the state superintendent of schools. Appointees shall include
educators from public schools and the lay public.
1. Appointees shall serve until a new
committee is appointed to be responsible for consideration of the same subject
area(s)/grade(s).
2. The state
committee shall:
(i) Assure that all learning
resources submitted during the recommendation process are evaluated in local
communities;
(ii) Assure that only
those learning resources considered to be of the highest quality are
recommended for state recommendation;
(iii) Have open meetings; and
(iv) Present to the state board a list of
recommended titles.
(d) Members of the state committee shall not
have been employed within the preceding two years by any publisher, producer or
distributor of learning resources. Members shall be released from the committee
if they accept employment with any author, producer, publisher or distributor
of learning resources while serving on the state committee.
(e) While serving on the state committee,
members shall not receive any item of value from any author, producer,
publisher or distributor of learning resources, except for copies of the sample
learning resources to be evaluated. Members shall not sell or otherwise dispose
of samples in any manner that results in personal gain.
Notes
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