Sarasota School Board approves new math, social studies textbooks through 2029

Steven Walker, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
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The Sarasota County School Board approved 20 new instructional textbooks for classroom use in unanimous votes Tuesday.

The textbooks, social studies and math books for students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, were selected through committees with district leaders and were subject to public hearings ahead of the votes. Previous book adoptions for math and social studies expire at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

The selected math textbooks were approved for use through 2028, while the selected social studies textbooks were adopted through 2029.

Superintendent Terry Connor said the district followed state law in the selection and adoption of each book, and he thanked the district staff members who worked on the instructional material selection.

"There's a lot of new territory that we've had to go over related to new legislation, so thanks to the team for that," Connor said.

Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor delivers remarks following his swearing-in ceremony in July.
Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor delivers remarks following his swearing-in ceremony in July.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a flurry of education bills during his tenure, including a law that requires school boards to hold public hearings regarding the adoption of instructional materials for curriculum use.

Unlike much of the school board's action on curriculum and instructional material, these textbooks were not met with public comment or criticism at Tuesday's meeting.

Florida law also requires school boards to individually approve each book, meaning the Sarasota board had to call a motion, second, and voice vote on each of the 20 textbooks.

Here are each of the 20 newly approved instructional materials for Sarasota Schools, listed by subject, book title and publisher:

Kindergarten Social Studies: Florida Social Studies, Gallopade

Grade 1 Social Studies: Florida Social Studies, Gallopade

Grade 2 Social Studies: Florida Social Studies, Gallopade

Grade 3 Social Studies: Florida Social Studies, Gallopade

Grade 4 Social Studies: Florida Social Studies, Gallopade

Grade 5 Social Studies: Florida Social Studies, Gallopade

Grade 6 Social Studies: MJ World History Voices and Perspectives, McGraw Hill

Grade 7 Social Studies: MJ US History Early Years, McGraw Hill

Grade 8 Social Studies: MJ Civics, McGraw Hill

High School Economics: HS Economics, McGraw Hill

High School Government: HS United States Government and Civics, McGraw Hill

High School Psychology: Personal Psychology, eDynamics Learning

High School U.S. History: HS America through the Lens 1877 to Present, National Geographic Cengage

High School World History: HS World History Voyages of Explorations, National Geographic Cengage

Grade 6 Course 1 Advanced Math: Big Ideas Learning, Cengage

Grade 6 Course 1 Math, Big Ideas Learning, Cengage

Grade 7 Course 2 Advanced Math: Big Ideas Learning, Cengage

Grade 7 Course 2 Math: Big Ideas Learning, Cengage

Grade 8 Pre-Algebra: Big Ideas Learning, Cengage

High School Pre-Calculus: Pre-Calculus, Savvas

Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota School Board approves new social studies, math textbooks