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Board approves K–12 science textbook adoptions across grades and disciplines
Summary
Sarasota County School Board approved recommended science instructional materials for kindergarten through high‑school disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics and specialized high‑school subjects, in separate line‑item votes required by state statute.
The Sarasota County School Board approved a slate of science instructional materials for the 2026–2031 adoption cycle by individual roll-call votes on Feb. 18, approving materials for kindergarten through eighth‑grade science and a series of high‑school science subjects.
Superintendent Connor said the adoptions were the result of committee review and alignment checks against state standards. Florida statute requires singular, line‑item votes for instructional-material adoptions, so the board moved through each grade and subject separately.
What passed: The board approved the recommended materials, 5‑0, for the following agenda items (summary): - 11.4: Kindergarten science instructional materials. - 11.5: Grade 1 science. - 11.6: Grade 2 science. - 11.7: Grade 3 science. - 11.8: Grade 4 science. - 11.9: Grade 5 science. - 11.10: Grade 6 science. - 11.11: Grade 7 science. - 11.12: Grade 8 science. - 11.13: Middle school advanced physical science. - 11.14: High school biology. - 11.15: High school Earth/space science. - 11.16: High school chemistry. - 11.17: High school anatomy. - 11.18: High school physics. - 11.19: High school astronomy. - 11.20: High school environmental science. - 11.21: High school forensic science. - 11.22: High school marine science.
Why it matters: The adoptions set the materials teachers will use for the next adoption cycle, shaping curriculum, classroom resources and digital access for the district’s science programs.
Board process: The superintendent and staff presented the materials and the textbook-selection committees’ recommendations. Board members moved and seconded each item as required; all votes recorded as 5‑0. Several board members publicly thanked textbook-selection committees for the review work.
Ending: All adoption motions carried unanimously. The district will proceed with purchasing, distribution and professional‑learning support tied to the approved materials in the coming months.
