Preliminary Screening

In early 2024 publishers were contacted and sample titles were ordered for materials that were still being considered. Once collected, the materials needed to be evaluated using the MUHSD Board Policy 6161.1 AR regarding Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials. A team of librarians, as well as our digital curriculum administrator, conducted this review and eliminated several titles for not meeting student needs or having poor technology integration with our existing digital environment.

Also during Spring 2024, various surveys were conducted in order to gather information about textbook wants and needs.

Surveys

This document summarizes all of the survey results from teachers, students and parents/guardians that were collected in Spring 2024. Surveys were open for a minimum of two weeks to give people ample time to reply. In this time, 104 staff responded, 116 students responded and 156 parents/guardians responded.

Evaluation Committees

In late Spring 2024, teachers were invited to submit their names to be part of a textbook review committee.

A math committee was convened and met on May 8, 2024 and science met on May 9, 2024. Committees were composed of one or more math, science, ag science, special education, and ELD teachers as well as an instructional coach.

Committee members were given an extremely detailed rubric to evaluate a textbook according to different criteria. The rubric was created using the NGSS TIME process (science), the IMET tool (math), in addition to  rubrics sourced from other California school districts. 

Evaluators had physical copies of the books plus online access. They could use teacher, student, and any ancillary material the publisher provided. They were asked to cite evidence and document their findings in support of their ratings. A summary of their findings is included below.

Science

The table below has the science publishers being considered as well as the score they earned with evaluation. Clicking on the name of the publisher takes you to the detailed rubric with ratings and comments.

This document compares all four science publishers side by side so reviewers can see how they compare to each other in each category.

The image below is an example of what you will see on that document.

Math

The table below has the math publishers being considered as well as the score they earned with evaluation. Clicking on the name of the publisher takes you to the detailed rubric with ratings and comments.

This document compares all three math publishers side by side so reviewers can see how they compare in each category.

The image below is an example of what you will see on the document.