HLS 16RS-228 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 400
BY REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS
TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS: Provides relative to the review of textbooks and other
instructional materials by the state Dept. of Education
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:351.1(B)(1), relative to textbooks and other instructional
3 materials; to provide relative to the review of textbooks and other instructional
4 materials by the state Department of Education; to require that the department
5 conduct such reviews in accordance with the schedule of the State Board of
6 Elementary and Secondary Education for reviews of certain content standards; to
7 require the department to prioritize certain reviews and to publish a related timeline
8 on its website; and to provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:351.1(B)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 ยง351.1. Textbooks and other instructional materials; review; adoption; procurement;
12 distribution
13 * * *
14 B.(1)(a) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
15 establish a transparent, digital process whereby the state Department of Education
16 shall review textbooks and other instructional materials in the core subject areas of
17 English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies and determine the
18 degree to which each aligns with state content standards. The department may review
19 textbooks and instructional materials in other subject matter areas as it deems
20 necessary or upon request of a public school governing authority.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-228 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 400
1 (b) The department may review textbooks and other instructional materials
2 at such times as it deems necessary and appropriate but shall review textbooks and
3 other instructional materials in the core subject areas of English language arts,
4 mathematics, science, and social studies at least every six years, in accordance with
5 the state board's schedule of reviews of core state academic content standards. The
6 department shall prioritize reviews of textbooks and other instructional materials
7 used to teach state academic content standards recently reviewed and revised and
8 shall publish on its website a projected timeline of such prioritized reviews.
9 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 400 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Reynolds
Abstract: Requires that the state Dept. of Education's reviews of textbooks in core subjects
be conducted in accordance with the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary
Education's schedule of reviews of core state academic content standards.
Present law requires the state Dept. of Education (DOE) to conduct reviews of textbooks and
other instructional materials in the core subjects of English language arts, mathematics,
science, and social studies and to determine the degree to which each aligns with state
content standards. Authorizes DOE to conduct reviews in other subject areas as it deems
necessary or upon the request of a public school governing authority. Proposed law retains
present law.
Present law requires DOE to conduct reviews in such core subjects at least every six years.
Proposed law requires that DOE do this in accordance with the State Bd. of Elementary and
Secondary Education's schedule of reviews of core state academic content standards,
prioritize reviews of textbooks used to teach state academic content standards recently
reviewed and revised, and publish on its website a projected timeline of such prioritized
reviews.
(Amends R.S. 17:351.1(B)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Restore present law provisions authorizing DOE to review textbooks at such
times as it deems necessary and appropriate and requiring the review of
textbooks in core subject areas at least every six years.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-228 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 400
2. Add proposed law requirement that DOE conduct reviews in accordance with the
state board's schedule of reviews of core state academic content standards,
prioritize reviews of textbooks used to teach state academic content standards
recently reviewed and revised, and publish a projected review timeline on its
website.
3. Remove proposed law prohibition against DOE's textbook reviews in more than
one core subject area in a given year and proposed law requirement that reviews
in core subject areas be conducted over the course of a six-year cycle.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.