Signed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes local school boards to choose school textbooks, effective July 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Authorizes district school boards to select and provide “adequate instructional materials” for all students that align with applicable state standards (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Defines “adequate instructional materials” as hardbacked or softbacked textbooks, electronic content, consumables, learning laboratories, manipulatives, electronic media, computer courseware, software, or applications that serve as the basis for instruction for each student in the core courses of mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, reading, and literature (Sec. 1).

• Requires districts to establish local instructional review committees to review and recommend instructional materials to the school board for final adoption, to include the following members: (Sec. 2).
• An individual, one appointed by each member of the district school board, with expertise in science, math, language arts, social studies or technical studies who is not employed by the district; 
• A number of classroom teachers equal to the number of district school board members, appointed by the superintendent, who accurately represent the subject areas and grade levels of the material that is being considered; and
• A parent of a student currently enrolled in a public school in the district.

• Specifies that materials selected by reviewers must be objective, balanced, fact-based, and must take into consideration the following (Sec. 5):
• The age of the students; 
• The degree of supplementation by an instructor; and 
• The broad racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity of the students.

• Requires the district school board to conduct open hearings to approve an annual instructional materials plan, receive public comments, and review the recommended materials (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the public to appeal the district school board’s adoption of specific instructional materials at a public hearing within 15 days of their adoption (Sec. 2).

• Requires the district school board to make the student editions of instructional materials available online 20 days before the public hearing (Sec. 2).

• Requires the district to make all instructional materials for students in kindergarten through grade 12 available in digital format, beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the district school board to annually notify parents of enrolled students of their ability to access their children’s textbooks through the district’s local improvement system in written form and on the school district’s website (Sec. 2). 

• Rep. Charles David, Jr. voted “Nay” after the roll call.

• Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda initially voted “Nay” but changed her vote to “Yea” after the roll call.

Full Bill Text