Alabama board approves K–12 social studies textbooks after public criticism and debate

The Alabama State Board of Education on March 12 unanimously approved a resolution to adopt the state textbook committee’s recommendations for K–12 social studies textbooks, concluding a public hearing in which speakers urged both delay and approval.

At a public hearing before the vote, Becky Garrettson of Eagle Forum said a brief review of the materials revealed "an imbalance of how religions are presented" and alleged political bias, saying one eighth-grade text placed "former President Trump in a section labeled threats to democracy directly alongside authoritarian leaders such as Kim Jun." She urged the board to delay the vote so the public could "hear these specific concerns" before final adoption.

Robert Monk, who said he reviewed Studies Weekly for grades three through six, told the board he found "egregious examples of serious factual omissions and overemphasis on victimhood," citing the omission of the Fort Mims massacre of 1813 and simplified accounts of sharecropping as examples. "As you vote on this, will you be confident that your vote will benefit the students with balance and truth for years to come?" he asked.

Three speakers urged the board to approve the committee’s recommendations. Dr. Bill Man, principal of Bestavia Hills High School’s freshman campus and a certified social studies teacher, said committee members "spent 75 to 100 hours" reviewing textbooks and argued that approving vetted materials would give teachers—particularly early-career and special-needs instructors—standards-aligned resources. "Approve these textbooks so teachers can begin the work of designing lessons aligned to the new social studies standards," he said.

Casey Poliola, a member of the state textbook selection committee and a social studies teacher, said the selection process "was led by Alabama educators" and that without approved materials teachers would be forced to rely on internet sources "whose funding, motivation, and values are completely unknown to us." She asked the board to trust the committee and put the books into classrooms.

Speaking for the board, Dr. Mackey noted the materials had been on public display since last summer, said the committee had rejected some titles, and urged adoption so districts could obtain state pricing and move forward with instruction. "We've taken a lot of public comment," he said, but added, "I do feel like it's time to move on today and adopt the textbooks."

Board member Wayne Reynolds acknowledged the committee’s work but said he had found problems in content and emphasized that local districts retain authority to select materials. Other board members who had reviewed the books also thanked the textbook committee for its work and described time-consuming, granular reviews.

After debate, the board took a voice/hand vote and the chair announced the motion carried. The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; the chair described the outcome as unanimous.

The board’s action follows adoption of new state standards, which Dr. Mackey and committee members said motivated the review. Dr. Mackey also said the list of committee rejections is not public until after the vote, a detail he said the board would try to address in the next legislative session.

Next steps: districts may pursue state-contracted purchases of approved materials and local textbook committees remain responsible for final local adoption decisions.