Tennessee Textbook Commission adopts two policies, elects chair and vice chair and approves advisory panelists

The Tennessee Textbook Commission on March 13, 2025 voted to adopt two written policies that formalize how instructional materials are evaluated and to elect leadership for the coming term.

The commission approved Policy 2.5, which sets minimum textbook cut scores, and Policy 2.6, which documents the textbook and instructional materials adoption review process. Both measures passed by roll-call votes during the regular meeting following a workshop discussion.

Commission staff presented the draft policies and explained their purpose. The commission attorney said the cut-score practice the commission has used during prior adoption cycles is now being put into written policy: “each textbook or instructional material must contain 100% of the academic standards for that course, and then also that textbook or instructional material has to meet 80% or higher on rubrics created by the Department of Education,” the attorney said. The attorney described Policy 2.6 as a statement of the adoption process “both from the publisher’s end and then also the commission’s.”

The commission also held elections required by statute. A member nominated Dr. Amy Ketch for chair and the nomination carried on a roll-call vote. Mike Bell was nominated and elected vice chair. The commission approved the minutes of the Jan. 24, 2025 special-called meeting and approved the Schedule E advisory panelists. The body acknowledged — with no vote required — the preliminary Schedule E publisher bid list presented in members’ binders.

Roll-call tallies recorded during the meeting showed unanimous recorded “yes” votes for the motions brought to a vote. The transcript records the following members voting “yes” during roll call sequences: Linda Cash; Becky Atkinson; Mike Bell; Billy Bridal; Katie Capshaw; Lori Cardoza Moore; Rebecca Farley; Kathy Hickey. The meeting chair announced the motions passed after affirmative roll calls.

During the workshop portion staff also confirmed there were no textbook subject substitutions or library materials appeals filed at this time. The commission noted that appeals to the commission should be rare because local districts are expected to handle most book challenges; a member who said they had carried the enabling bill when they served in the legislature told the commission they were “glad they’re being handled at the local level.”

The commission set a special-called meeting for July 30, 2025 and listed the first regular scheduled meeting as September 2025. The chair reminded members that a quorum of eight is required for voting sessions.

Items adopted at the meeting will move into the administrative record and into future adoption cycle materials as policy guidance.