Huntsville City Schools approves new K–12 science textbooks under updated standards

Huntsville City Schools on Wednesday evening approved adopting new science textbooks for kindergarten through 12th grade as the district prepares to implement updated state science standards.

The board heard that McGraw Hill’s Inspire Science will be used for grades K–5 and again for grades 6–8. High school courses will use multiple publishers: SABIS for honors biology, Pearson for several standard and honors science courses (including physics, chemistry and AP physics), Bedford Freeman & Worth for AP biology and AP environmental science, and Kendall Hunt for forensic science and criminal investigation. "Okay, so next year we will be implementing new science standards and so we are adopting new textbooks and today we're gonna show you what we're adopting at each level," a curriculum presenter said.

The curriculum presenter told the board that elementary classrooms will use online materials paired with a workbook: "So, basically, what's happening now in, elementary, they go to a more of a work textbook. So it it does have you have a online section, but in the work textbook, you have some reading passages and stuff that you use, but you also have your work in that book too. So it's it's a book." Board members asked whether the adopted books are state-approved and whether the district's committee reviewed options; the presenter replied that each school voted on selections, with elementary teachers voting at the school level and high schools coordinating their votes.

Board members also asked about print availability for students who need physical books. The presenter said K–8 adoption is primarily online with workbooks available, while high school selections will have both print and digital formats.

The superintendent formally recommended approval of the textbook science presentation and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Votes at the meeting did not record individual tallies on the record; the chair announced the motion passed.