Textbooks

Textbook Adoption Information

The Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission is responsible for recommending an official list of textbooks and instructional materials to the Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE) for approval. Once the SBE has approved a list of textbooks and instructional materials, it is the responsibility of local boards of education to decide which textbooks and instructional materials to use in their districts.

The state textbook adoption process is administered in accordance with the statutory requirements as outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 22, and the Rules and Policies of the State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission. Once the local districts are provided with the list of state-approved vendors, local school systems must adopt books on the official list or submit a waiver request to the department to use textbooks or instructional materials not on the approved list.

According to the Tennessee Department of Education:
• The School Board may also choose to appoint experts in the grade level or subject matter field for which textbooks and instructional materials are to be reviewed.
• Teachers and supervisors who serve on the committee must be teaching or supervising the respective grade or subject at the time of appointment and must be licensed to teach in the state with endorsements in the subject matter or grade level for which textbooks or instructional materials are being reviewed.
• Teachers and supervisors must have three or more years of experience as teachers or supervisors in public schools. The Director of Schools in the district adopting textbooks or instructional materials serves as an ex officio member of all committees.

After the textbook committee makes its recommendation to the School Board, the Director of Schools records the list of all textbooks or instructional materials adopted by the Board, forwards a copy of the recorded adoption to the Commissioner of Education, and posts the list on the district’s website.

Curriculum-Related Resources

• Tennessee Department of Education Academic Standards
• FSD Adopted Textbooks
• FSD Online Resources
• Open Up Resources for English Language Arts K-5
• Tennessee Book Company Textbook Depository

Office of Curriculum & Instruction and Professional Learning

Summer Carlton, Ed.D., Supervisor
Crystal Bowman, Administrative Clerk
205 Eddy Lane
Franklin, TN  37064
615-472-3113