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Division recommends Mathspace and AP texts for secondary courses; public review period had limited response
Summary
The curriculum committee recommended Mathspace for middle and high school math (including AFTA) and selected AP textbooks for U.S. history, human geography and calculus. Presenters said books were vetted by teacher/subject committees; board members requested review copies and clearer multi‑year cost totals.
Tom Quinn, executive director of secondary teaching and learning, presented the Department of Teaching and Learning’s textbook adoption recommendations for middle and high school math and for selected AP social studies courses.
The committee's top recommendation for grades 6–8 math and high school Algebra/AFTA was Mathspace, based on stronger alignment to the 2023 standards, robust assessment resources and offline access for students who need it. Mathspace was also the top recommendation for Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2; for AP Calculus the committee recommended a Calculus text (Brett, Bedford, Freeman & Worth). For AP U.S. History the committee recommended Fabric of a Nation (second edition) and for AP Human Geography a Cengage edition aligned with College Board frameworks.
Quinn said the adoption process began in June 2025 and involved teachers, coaches, post‑secondary partners, special education coordinators and students. Cost projections presented included digital bundles and class‑set estimates (e.g., 35 per class set for middle school, 30 for high school) and contract periods of five years for math titles and seven years for some AP texts. Board members asked procurement‑related questions about publisher price escalation (presenters said publishers typically include a maximum annual increase clause around 3 percent) and requested that a physical copy be placed in the clerk’s office for review.
Quinn said public display and comment windows were offered (books were displayed October–November and at the central library), but staff reported relatively few public responses during the comment period. Several board members asked staff to provide clearer multi‑year cost totals and to circulate the AP course frameworks and instructions on how board members can sign out review copies prior to the upcoming consent vote.
What happens next: The committee will return the recommendations to the board for a consent vote at a later meeting once final procurement details and cost projections are confirmed.
