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Tennessee textbook adoption cycle opens; 22 publishers have signaled intent to bid
Summary
The Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission opened the Schedule F adoption cycle, staff reported 22 publishers have submitted intent-to-bid forms and the official bid window closes Feb. 20; public review of submitted materials begins April 1 online and in-person April 23 at MTSU.
The Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission on Jan. 7 opened the Schedule F textbook adoption cycle and reviewed timelines for publisher submissions and public review.
Lee Houston, executive director of the Textbook Commission, told members that the official bid window opened that day and that the final deadline to submit official bids is 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2026. "None of it's binding," Houston said of the early intent-to-bid list; "it's just a strict intent to bid, and we'll know the official number after February 20 when the bid window actually closes." The commission was meeting under a special-called virtual meeting notice in accordance with TCA 8-44-108 and TCA 49-6-2201(k).
Kendra Hayes, executive assistant for the commission, reported, "Currently, we have 22 publishers that have submitted intent to bid." Hayes also noted that many grade levels and CTE schedules already have at least one publisher indicating an intent to participate; one resource, "Contemporary Issues," had no intent-to-bid entries at the time of the meeting.
Commissioners sought clarity on whether publishers could submit an official bid without filing an intent form. "Intent to bid is just a window that the commission allows publishers to submit a couple different necessary documents," said Hayden Shannon, general counsel. "None of the intent to bid... is binding. A publisher can still submit an official bid," he said, adding that the commission will circulate the official bid list after the Feb. 20 deadline.
The commission also confirmed how parents and the public will be able to review materials. "It begins on April 1 of every year," Shannon said of online public review pages hosted on the commission website, which list Schedule F materials up for bid and instructions for access. For in-person review, he said publishers must submit hard copies: "Publishers must submit hard physical copies of all material by April 23 to Middle Tennessee State University's textbook depository," enabling in-person inspection.
Why it matters: the list of bidders and the timing of public review shape which materials districts can consider for local adoption. Commissioners emphasized that the commission and department evaluate materials against statutory requirements but noted that actual district selection of textbooks remains a local decision.
Next steps: staff will provide commissioners with the official bid list after the Feb. 20 closing; public online review begins April 1 and physical inspection of submitted materials will be available starting when publishers deliver hard copies by April 23, 2026.
