2014-15 9-12 Science Adoption Committee Meeting Summaries

March 24, 2015
At our March meeting, the committee recommended the adoption of the following materials:

Physical Science: Physical Science with Earth Science: McGraw Hill
Biology: McDougal Biology: Houghton Mifflin
Chemistry: Chemistry, Matter and Change: McGraw Hill
Physics: Walker, Physics 1e: Pearson

Committee members used data and information from a variety of sources to inform their final recommendation. These included:

A thorough review of instructional materials from a variety of publishers using review rubrics. This review, conducted by the adoption committee, was used to narrow the selection of materials to 2-3 finalists per subject.
A pilot process, involving teachers from each high school, where finalist materials were tested in classrooms. Student and teacher feedback was also gathered during this process.
Teacher surveys asking physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics teachers to provide feedback about the timing of the adoption.
A cost analysis of the materials.
An evaluation of digital resources from each of the finalists by our Technology Operations Department.
The committee’s recommendation will now be forwarded to the Instructional Materials Committee (IMC). IMC members will review the materials and will make a recommendation to the Board. The Board will take action on the recommendation in June. A two week window is scheduled before the June Board meeting for public comment on the materials.

February 2, 2015
At our February meeting, the 9-12 Science Adoption Committee members narrowed the selection of materials to 2-3 sets per subject. In the coming month, at least two teachers per high school will be piloting these materials in the areas of physical science, biology, chemistry or physics. Teachers who will be piloting have selected lessons and units that match with what they will be teaching at this time of year. During the pilot process, teachers will be gathering information about the usability of the materials. They will also be collecting feedback from students. In March and April, materials will be made available for parents and community members to review.

The materials being piloted by school are:

 

A recommendation about the adoption of science materials will be made by the committee on March 24.

 

December 15, 2014 and January 15, 2015
The 9-12 Science Adoption Committee has been reviewing instructional materials from a variety of publishers. Using five review rubrics, committee members are evaluating print and digital resources for students and teachers. The committee is scheduled to meet again in February to identify 2-3 sets of materials in the areas of physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics to pilot in classrooms.

 

November 21, 2014
The 9-12 Science Adoption Committee met to begin reviewing instructional materials for physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Committee members are using rubrics to determine how well these instructional materials address the following criteria:

  • Best instructional practice for high school science
  • Alignment to the new Next Generation Science Standards
  • Best assessment practice for high school science
  • Integration of digital resources to support instruction
  • Quality organization and design

The analysis of materials from a variety of publishers is scheduled through mid-February. Following this analysis, a proposal will be made for a limited pilot of materials in high school classrooms in February and March.

 

September 18 and October 16, 2014
High school science teachers, administrators, parents, and community members met for full days on September 18 and October 16, 2014 to finalize checklists (rubrics) that will be used to evaluate science materials. Committee members will begin reviewing materials in the areas of physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics starting in November 2014. The committee is scheduled to have a recommendation about the adoption of materials for the Instructional Materials Committee meeting on May 7, 2015. This will be followed by a recommendation to the Board.