Bill would overhaul school textbook review process

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers are consider-ing an overhaul to Louisiana’s process for reviewing textbooks to give school districts more freedom to decide which instructional materials they want to use.
The Senate Education Committee agreed Wednesday without objection to the proposal.
Sen. Conrad Appel, the committee’s chairman, says he’s trying to address concerns that parents have limited input on the teaching materials used in their children’s schools.
The measure would require the state education department to review instructional materials in English, math, science and social studies to decide whether they meet state educational standards.
But districts would decide which books and materials should be used, considering recommendations from review committees of teachers, parents and others.
The bill heads next to the full Senate for debate.