La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXV-1703

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section CXV-1703 - Textbooks

A. Each school shall provide instructional materials for each student and shall have proper procedures for selection, storage, and preservation of such materials.

B. The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall adopt policies and regulations for the adoption and use of textbooks and other instructional materials that sufficiently support the needs of all students in meeting state content standards.

1. The LDE shall utilize a transparent process to review textbooks and other instructional materials in the core subjects of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies to determine the degree to which each aligns with state content standards.

a. The state review process shall be conducted entirely online and every aspect of the review process including the textbooks and instructional materials under review and any comments submitted by reviewers, parents and other members of the public, and publishers and other content providers, shall be posted online and made readily accessible to all interested parties.

b. All print textbooks and print instructional materials purchased shall be supplied in an electronic format that meets federal requirements consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and can be converted in to specialized formats for children with disabilities.

c. The LDE shall provide each school governing authority with a list of all textbooks and other instructional materials reviewed by LDE which includes information indicating the degree to which each aligns with state content standards.

2. For the adoption of textbooks and other instructional materials that have not been reviewed by the LDE, the policy of the school governing authority shall provide for the establishment of review committees composed of classroom teachers and other educators, all of whom shall be employees of Louisiana public schools, parents of students enrolled in Louisiana public schools, and other educational stakeholders in Louisiana who have interest in or knowledge of curriculum and the subject matter under consideration.

3. Parents and other members of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to review and provide input relative to the textbooks and instructional materials under review prior to final adoption.

4. The purchase of electronic textbooks, instructional materials, and other media or content shall be maximized to the extent possible.

5. Each school governing authority may purchase textbooks and other instructional materials through a state contract or through the central depository or may contract directly with a publisher or other content provider.

C. Textbooks and instructional materials adopted for use in public schools shall accurately reflect the contributions and achievements of people of differing races and promote and understanding of the history and values of the people of the United States and Louisiana, including the free enterprise system, private property, constitutional liberties, democratic value and traditional standards of moral values.

D. Each school governing authority shall provide textbooks and other instructional materials, as available, to students enrolled in a state-approved home study program. The following procedures shall be used for loaning textbooks to be used in approved home study programs. Parents or guardians must proceed through the following steps in order to access textbooks for students in home study:

1. submit an application to the LDE and obtain approval for participation in the Home Study Program;

2. present a copy of the approved home-study application form to the LEA textbook supervisor or designee;

3. select the textbooks and/or materials needed from the listing as available, from the LEA; and

4. provide a deposit equal to 100 percent of the replacement cost. Such deposit will be returned when the books are returned. If books are not returned or paid for, the parent or legal guardian shall not be eligible to continue participation in the textbook rental program until all textbooks debts have been cleared.

E. Each LEA may establish the price and sell any textbook or library book no longer in use to any person or entity for private use.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXV-1703

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:1286 (June 2005), amended LR 37:1141 (April 2011), LR 38:2365 (September 2012), LR 39:2212 (August 2013), Amended LR 42556 (4/1/2016).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:7(4), R.S. 17:8.3, R.S. 17:22, R.S. 17:351 et seq, R.S. 17:356, R.S. 1970.4, and R.S. 17:1970.24.