Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Textbook Adoption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rock Hill board tables vote on personal-finance textbook after concerns over all-digital subscription
Summary
The Rock Hill School Board postponed a vote on adopting Ramsey Solutions for the personal-finance graduation requirement after members raised concerns that the recommended option is primarily a six-year digital subscription and may limit access for students without reliable home internet or those who prefer paper workbooks.
The Rock Hill School Board on Nov. 11 postponed action on a recommended personal-finance textbook after several members questioned whether the district would be locked into an all-digital, six-year subscription and whether consumable printed workbooks would be available.
Alicia Johnson, the district's executive director for secondary education, told the board that the state had allocated funding for new personal-finance instructional materials and that "the textbook that we are adopting, based on your approval, if you're approved, would be Ramsey Solutions." Johnson said the Ramsey option includes a six‑year digital subscription rostered to students and that the vendor had provided printed review materials for the board to examine, but she agreed to confirm whether classroom-level consumable workbooks would be available.
Board members pressed for clarity on equitable access and classroom logistics. "I just really wish we could put things in kids' hands," said Barnes, who said he favors print options for students who are not 'digital learners.' Other members asked whether teachers or students could choose print versions or whether an entire class would be required to use the same format.
Johnson said she would investigate whether the district could offer a consumable workbook alongside the digital subscription and return with that information. With those questions outstanding, Hutchison moved to table the adoption until the next regular meeting; Harris seconded. The motion to table passed 6-1.
The board did not adopt a textbook at the Nov. 11 meeting; Johnson will report back with details about print options, how the digital subscription would be rostered, and any steps required to change materials mid-contract or before the end of the six-year subscription.
Next steps: staff will confirm vendor options for consumable workbooks and whether individual students or teachers could opt for print; the board is likely to revisit the adoption at its next meeting.
