IFAA – Textbook Selection and Adoption

Descriptor Code: IFAA Instructional Resources Selection and Acquisition

In alignment with Board Policy BAB, the Cherokee County Board of Education recognizes that a cohesive K-12 system of teaching and learning requires all teachers and students have access to district-acquired, standards-aligned print and digital resources (core, supplemental, teacher created, intervention, assessment) to support the cohesive system of teaching and learning. Teachers and students should have access to a comprehensive collection of learning resources that can be customized to meet the learning needs of students and provide teachers with the necessary tools to effectively teach the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards which are aligned to the state’s required Georgia Standards of Excellence.

A.    Definitions

1.      Instructional Resources are all content and materials aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards that are used for teaching and learning in all classrooms. Instructional Resources include:

a.      Core Instructional Resources are instructional materials and content that serve as the principle instructional resource to be used for a state funded course. These include both print and digital resources, highly aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards, provided by the School District upon Board approval for use in an academic course.

b.      Supplemental Instructional Resources are any instructional resources, print or digital, that are aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards and are designed to supplement the gaps in the Core Instructional Resources.

c.       Teacher Created Resources are instructional resources created by teachers in the School District that are aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards.

d.      Intervention Resources are instructional resources, aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards, designed to provide support and acceleration for students in mastering standards and grade-level skills.

e.       Assessment Resources are resources, aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards, designed to determine students’ mastery of standards. These are to include screeners, formative, and summative assessment resources which can be used formally or informally to monitor progress, inform instruction, or demonstrate standard mastery.

2.      Sources of Instructional Resources are the origin or type of materials aligned to the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards that are used to support teaching and learning in all classrooms. Sources of Instructional Resources include:

a.      Locally Developed Resources (LDR) are resources created by the educators in the School District that include, but are not limited to, multimedia resources, digital units of study, unit and lesson plans, problem-based learning activities, and assessments.

b.      Open Educational Resources (OER) are any resources print or digital formats available at little or no cost that can be used to support teaching and learning. The term can include, but is not limited to, textbooks, course readings, multimedia resources, simulations, games, quizzes, assessment tools, and related content that can be used for educational purposes.

c.       Publisher Produced Resources (PPR) are purchased content in print or digital formats that could include, but are not limited to, textbooks, full courses, content cartridges, multimedia resources and professional learning services.

B.     Selection and Acquisition

1.      In accordance with the O.C.G.A § 20-2-1010, the Cherokee County Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent and staff to implement a system to regulate and govern the selection of Instructional Resources necessary to achieve the School District’s student achievement goals.

2.      The School District identifies effective learning resources through a systematic, data driven process led by the Superintendent’s designee(s) and staff in which a review committee including teachers, parents, community members, and district staff carefully reviews and evaluates learning resources. This review process is vital for gathering feedback and data to inform the recommendation of resources to the Board of Education.

3.      Instructional resources shall be approved based on the extent to which they are aligned with the CCSD Teaching & Learning Standards and School District goals. In addition, curriculum and instructional resource vendors are required to certify that all curriculum and resources provided to the School District comply with applicable state law and School District policies and rules.

ADOPTED:  August 2, 2001

REVISED: February 13, 2025

Cherokee County Board of Education