ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: ED DPA 5-4-0-0 | 3^rd Read 16-10-4-0

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SB 1357: schools; access; instructional materials; review

Sponsor: Senator Allen S, LD 6

Committee on Education

Overview

Requires, on written request and advance notice, each school that is operated by a school district or charter holder to allow parents or guardians access to all instructional materials that are currently being used or being considered for use. Requires each school district or charter school to post, on its website, a listing of approved and adopted instructional materials.

History

Before a course is implemented, school district governing boards are required to approve the basic textbook for the course. Statute specifies that if a basic textbook is not included in a course, governing boards must approve all supplemental books that are to be used. Additionally, statute requires governing boards make available a copy of each textbook that is being considered for selection available at the school district office for public review. The copy of the textbook must be made available at least 60 days prior to selection. All meetings of committees authorized for textbook review and selection must be made open to the public (A.R.S. §§ 15-721, 15-722).

Statute requires school personnel designated by a governing board, on written request, to allow parents or guardians access to instructional materials currently used by or being considered for use by the school district. The school district must make at least one copy of the instructional material available for review by the parents or guardians. Parents or guardians are permitted to take printed textbooks, printed supplementary books and printed subject matter materials from school district premises for not more than 48 hours, though statute stipulates that all other materials may only be reviewed on school district premises (A.R.S. § 15-730).

Provisions

1. Requires, on written request and advance notice, each school that is operated by a school district or charter holder to allow parents or guardians access to all instructional materials that are currently being used or being considered for use. (Sec. 2)

2. Directs each school district and charter holder to post on its website:

a) A listing of approved and adopted instructional materials, by school, grade level and subject matter for the prior school year by August 1 annually; and

b) The procedures for parents and guardians to gain access to instructional materials. (Sec. 2)

3. Specifies that the listing must include the title, author, organization or website associated with each individual instructional material used. (Sec. 2)

4. States that if the school in the school district or charter school has a website, the school or charter school must post a link to the school district or charter holder website where the listing is posted. (Sec. 2)

5. States that digital reproduction of the entirety of the instructional material is not required. (Sec. 2)

6. Defines instructional materials to include any of the following that are created and published primarily for use by teachers and students in school instruction, including classroom instruction, nonpupil presentations, assemblies, lectures and nonpupil-led discussion groups, or that are required by a state educational agency or local educational agency for use by teachers and students in the classroom, including materials that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resources:

a) Textbooks, including digital textbooks or content;

b) Reading materials, including print and digital format;

c) Websites;

d) Films; and

e) Online applications and databases used for pupil instruction. (Sec. 2)

7. Repeals statute relating to access to instructional materials by parents and guardians. (Sec. 1)

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11.                   SB 1357

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