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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Public Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 494 amends the Instructional Material Law to eliminate the state adoption process, eliminates the requirement that the State Board develop the multiple adoption list, revises the definition of instructional materials and revises SDE's oversight duties related to instructional materials.

Significant Issues

This bill eliminates the written list of instructional materials approved by the SBE also know as the "multiple list". Local school boards will be required to implement an adoption process that involves parents and community members.

SDE will be required to ensure that materials purchased by private schools are not of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character or religious nature. Private schools will be required to submit a list of titles and a brief summary of content for all materials purchased with state instructional material funds.

Each local school board, state institution, private school or adult basic education center are required to submit an annual report to SDE.

This bill expands the definition of instructional materials to include other educational media used as the basis for instruction, including combinations of textbooks, learning kits, supplementary materials and electronic media.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

This bill reduces the initial amounts allocated to local school districts, state institutions and private schools on July 1, from 90 percent of the estimated entitlement to 75 percent.

This bill also eliminates state contracts with publishers that guarantee prices for six years. SDE anticipates that without contracts, instructional material prices may increase on average 5-10 percent annually.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This bill revises the duties of SDE as discussed in significant issues.

According to SDE, there will be a significant impact on local school districts, state institutions, private schools, and adult basic education centers. Many services currently provided by in-state depositories would have to be performed by school personnel, local districts will be responsible for ensuring that instructional materials align with local curriculum and state content standards and benchmarks. Each local entity will be responsible for entering into contracts with publishers of the publisher's authorized agent for the purchase and delivery of instructional materials.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

SDE raises concerns that without a standardized state adoption process, school districts will be able to adopt different content area materials in different years.

The department is also concerned that without a six year adoption process and a six year contract with publishers, publishers will be able to raise prices annually. Also, a non-adoption process could impact small school districts as they may not receive the same personal attention as larger districts.

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