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Board approves Discovery Education K–5 and Savvas 9–12 science materials; one board member votes no
Summary
After staff presentations and public comment, the board approved Discovery Education materials for K–5 and Savvas/Savas resources for 9–12 science. One board member voted against the motion. Staff said the materials align to Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland Environmental Literacy standards.
The Garrett County Board of Education voted April 8 to approve proposed science instructional materials: Discovery Education (K–5) — which includes Mystery Science and Techbook — and Savvas (9–12) for chemistry, physics and Miller & Levine for biology. Staff said teachers recommended the materials and that they align to the Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland's Environmental Literacy Standards.
A member of the public had expressed concern about references to global warming in a chemistry textbook; staff responded that the textbooks are instructional materials to support standards-based instruction and that crosscutting environmental topics provide opportunities for students to apply science concepts to real-world issues.
Superintendent McGarty recommended approval. The board moved and seconded the measure and approved it by voice vote; one board member, Matthew, registered a nay.
Why it matters: Adoption of new instructional materials affects classroom instruction, teacher planning and district textbook inventories; staff said materials were teacher-recommended and include resources for K–12 alignment to state standards.
