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District recommends new math and history textbooks; board questions classroom use
Summary
Curriculum staff recommended K'12 mathematics and selected history/social-science textbooks aligned to VDOE standards; board members pressed on how teachers will use and be trained on the materials and whether students will have home access.
Norfolk's curriculum office presented recommended textbook adoptions for K'12 mathematics and select history/social-science courses and described the public-review process and procurement steps before a formal adoption vote at the business meeting.
Executive Director Bruce Brady and senior coordinators described the vendor review and teacher-committee process used to vet materials, which included committees of classroom teachers (including special education and ESL teachers), publisher demonstrations and public-access displays at city library branches. Brady said the recommended middle- and high-school math texts are on the Virginia Department of Education list and that an elementary K'5 math adoption was locally vetted to ensure print-and-digital availability.
Staff said textbooks were chosen for alignment to the 2023 VDOE math standards, built-in differentiated supports for English learners and students with disabilities, and online resources. Brady said funding for adoption will come from the division's textbook allocation and that pricing is being finalized with publishers.
Several board members asked how textbooks will be used in classrooms. One board member said that, in her experience, teachers rely on worksheets and AP classroom materials rather than printed textbooks; she asked how the division will monitor effective use and whether students will be given home access. Curriculum staff said textbooks supplement teacher planning and instruction, that the division has used open educational resources where appropriate, and that central staff will provide professional development in the coming year to support consistent implementation of new materials.
Brady said many of the materials and digital resources are available for board review prior to the business meeting. The board asked for follow-up reporting on how the textbooks are being used in classrooms and how supports in the materials serve students with disabilities and English learners.
