State Textbook Commission may prioritize experienced teachers to help review textbooks under consideration

The State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission is weighing whether classroom experience should matter more when it comes to reviewing textbooks.The commission is currently working on forming an advisory panel to review science textbooks under consideration for Tennessee schools. The commission selects members of the panel each year through an application process.Under current rules, teachers with an endorsement in the subject area and subject matter experts can be considered to serve on an advisory panel and those with previous experience serving on state-level committees receive preference over other applicants.Commissioner Laurie Cardoza-Moore expressed concern with the policy and suggested a change to prioritize teachers who are teaching the subjects they’ll be reviewing.“It’s great that people have experience serving on committees, but that doesn’t determine or define whether someone is qualified just because they sat on a committee of another education review period, or textbook review, or instructional materials review committee. I think that whether the person has the qualifications is more important,” said Cardoza-Moore.Commissioner William Bryan was among those who expressed support for Cardoza-Moore’s proposal.“I do feel like the experience of being on a committee is somewhat valuable, but not on par with your level of working with science textbooks,” said Bryan.Other members of the commission opposed Cardoza-Moore’s proposal, saying it would only serve to delay the ongoing textbook review process.Commissioner Lee Houston defended the current policy arguing it helps select panelists with knowledge of what the Textbook Commission is looking for in student materials.“Saying you’re a classroom teacher and also serving on the committee, that’s a big difference," said Houston. "Your first-year teachers are still learning the curriculum and doing things, and to say ‘yes that weighs more’ than somebody who’s been on the committee, who's done it – you don’t get on the committee as a first year – so you have some experience; I think that kind of weighs out. You don’t know what happens in the school that might help,” said Houston.The chair will review and approve the list during the regular March meeting.