The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 52 Original 2019 Regular Session Morrish
Present law requires the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to prescribe
a process for the review, adoption, procurement, and distribution of free textbooks and other
instructional materials used at the elementary and secondary level. Further requires BESE to
establish a process whereby the state Department of Education (DOE) shall review textbooks and
other instructional materials in the core subject areas and determine the degree to which each aligns
with state content standards.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires each public school governing authority to adopt policies and regulations for the
adoption and use of textbooks and other instructional materials and the establishment of review
committees to review textbooks and other instructional materials that have not been reviewed by
DOE.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires that the policies and regulations adopted
by a public school governing authority establish evaluation criteria and procedures by which the
review committees shall determine the extent to which textbooks and other instructional materials
submitted for review align with state content standards.
Proposed law requires textbooks and other instructional materials that have not been reviewed by
DOE but have been reviewed by a public school governing authority and deemed aligned with state
content standards be given equal weight by DOE in all matters, including determination of eligibility
for federal or state funding.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:351.1(C)(3)(a); adds R.S. 17: 351.1(F))