(a) It is the duty of the commission to prepare a list of standard editions of textbooks and instructional materials that cover a complete program of study for approval by the state board of education for use in the public schools of the state. The commission shall prepare a list of at least four (4) books or sets of instructional materials in each subject and grade for which textbooks or instructional materials are to be adopted, if four (4) or more textbooks or sets of instructional materials in that subject or grade are available and of sufficient merit to warrant being listed. The list shall be published in accordance with the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the state publications committee. The proposed textbook and instructional materials list shall also be posted on the website of the department of education.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-6-2202

  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • textbooks: includes "electronic textbook" or "electronic textbooks" which means computer software, interactive videodisc, magnetic media, CD-ROM, computer courseware, local and remote computer assisted instruction, online service, electronic medium or other means of conveying information to the student or otherwise contributing to the learning process through electronic means. See Tennessee Code 49-6-2202
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)

(1) The commission has the authority to recommend to the state board of education which textbooks and instructional materials may be added to the list for adoption.
(2) The commission shall only recommend textbooks and instructional materials that comply with and reflect the values expressed in § 49-6-1028(b), if the textbook or instructional materials are being considered for adoption as a textbook or instructional materials for education of students in general studies and specifically in United States history and this nation’s republican form of government.
(3) Except as provided in § 49-6-2206(b), this part does not prohibit the use of, or apply to, supplemental instructional materials.
(4) In recommending textbooks and instructional materials for use in social studies, Tennessee history, American history or any related subject, the commission shall strive to recommend textbooks and instructional materials that accurately and comprehensively portray the full range of diversity and achievement of racial and ethnic minorities as well as the role and importance of religion in history.
(5) The commission shall not publish a list of, or recommend that the state board of education approve for use in the public schools of this state, textbooks or instructional materials created to align exclusively with the Common Core State Standards or that are marketed as Common Core textbooks or materials. The state board shall not approve for use in the public schools of this state textbooks or instructional materials created to align exclusively with the Common Core State Standards or that are marketed as Common Core textbooks or materials.
(c) A publisher submitting a textbook or instructional materials for possible approval shall execute an agreement:

(1) Ensuring the book’s or the materials’ accuracy;
(2) Certifying that the textbook or the instructional materials have been thoroughly examined and reviewed by qualified content experts for factual accuracy. The publisher shall also list the professional credentials for at least three (3) content review experts who have thoroughly examined the textbook or instructional materials for content accuracy;
(3) Certifying that the textbook or instructional materials have been thoroughly examined and reviewed by qualified editors for typographical errors and errors in grammar, written expression, spelling, formatting and other substantive elements that may affect student learning; and
(4) Agreeing to correct all factual and editing errors found in a textbook or instructional materials, at the publisher’s expense. The publisher shall submit a corrective action plan to the department, for review and approval by the state board, within thirty (30) days of the department’s notification of the existence of errors in the textbook or instructional materials.
(d) The commission shall not proceed with undue haste to accomplish the work of the commission, but, with the assistance of the state board and the department, shall establish appropriate deadlines for the review of textbooks and instructional materials by advisory panels and for its own review of textbooks and instructional materials. Upon the appropriate approval of the state board, the commission shall publish the list of textbooks and instructional materials that may be adopted by local boards of education for use in the schools of this state. The list shall contain the title of the textbooks and instructional materials listed for adoption, the names of the publishers and the prices at which the books and materials are available, as provided for in this chapter.
(e) As used in this part or elsewhere in this title, “textbook” or “textbooks” includes “electronic textbook” or “electronic textbooks,” which means computer software, interactive videodisc, magnetic media, CD-ROM, computer courseware, local and remote computer assisted instruction, online service, electronic medium or other means of conveying information to the student or otherwise contributing to the learning process through electronic means. Electronic textbooks may be recommended, adopted and purchased in the same fashion as provided for textbooks in this part.
(f) The department shall develop a proposed rubric to assist the commission in reviewing and scoring textbooks and instructional materials proposed for adoption. The department shall submit the proposed rubric to the commission for approval. If the commission does not approve the department’s proposed rubric, then the commission may request that the department revise the proposed rubric and resubmit the rubric for approval, or the commission may develop or adopt an alternative rubric.
(g) The department of education, including the commissioner of education, or a deputy or assistant commissioner of education, serving as the secretary of the commission, may, at the direction of the commission, assist the commission in the performance of the commission’s duties by providing recommendations to the commission, but shall not, when assisting the commission in the performance of the commission’s duties or when training newly appointed members of the commission or members of advisory panels, attempt to improperly influence or interfere with:

(1) The commission’s review or recommendation of textbooks and instructional materials proposed for adoption;
(2) The commission’s review, approval, adoption, or utilization of a rubric to assist the commission in reviewing and scoring textbooks and instructional materials proposed for adoption;
(3) The selection of experts appointed by the commission to serve on an advisory panel to advise the commission on textbooks and instructional materials proposed for adoption; or
(4) An advisory panel’s review or recommendation of textbooks and instructional materials proposed for adoption.
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