For the last four months, Sulphur Springs ISD science teachers from kindergarten all the way up to twelfth grade have been perusing new instructional materials for their classes.
The process, which happens at least every eight years (but can happen more frequently), starts with the State Board of Education members reviewing and voting to approve or reject submissions from textbook publishers. School districts are allowed to select non-approved materials, but that means the district must certify that all materials follow the TEKS, or Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards.
The SBOE released its approved materials list in November, and Sulphur Springs ISD science teachers got to work meeting with publishers’ sales representatives, collecting samples, reviewing the materials and forming a selection committee.
By February, the SSISD selection committee had narrowed the choices from more than 20 down to five. Campus teachers did a complete review and gave their input to the committee members on their respective campuses, and the committe met to compile the results.
The choice across the district was almost unanimous. SSISD science teachers recommended, and the committee chose to go with Savvas Learning Company, formerly Pearson K-12 Learning.
The new materials and student consumables — activity mats, notebooks lab ware kits, digital licenses, classroom libraries and more — will cost $223,153 for a three-year adoption.
Superintendent Deana Steeber said SSISD has an instructional materials fund, which will cover the entire cost without affecting the district budget.
The product line includes K-8, biology, chemistry, physics and integrated physics and chemistry (IPC) for SSISD students for the next three years.
Trustees unanimously approved the textbook adoption recommendation. SSISD students will begin using the new materials during the 2024-2025 school year.