KRS § 156.407 — KY Code / Title XIII / Chapter 156 / Section 156.407
156.407 Selection of instructional materials reviewers -- Review and evaluation process -- State-approved list of instructional materials and programs. (Effective July 1, 2026)
Status: in_force

156.407 Selection of instructional materials reviewers -- Review and evaluation

process -- State-approved list of instructional materials and programs.

(Effective July 1, 2026)

(1) The chief state school officer shall, not later than one (1) academic year following

the academic standards and assessment review process established in KRS

158.6453 for reading and writing, mathematics, science, and social studies,

recommend at least eight (8) nominees for instructional materials reviewers who

previously served on advisory panels or review committees under KRS 158.6453

for the content area or areas being reviewed.

(2) The State Quality Curriculum Task Force shall review and approve instructional

materials reviewers based on the chief state school officer's recommendations as

specified in KRS 156.405.

(3) The department's curriculum and instruction specialists shall serve as staff to the

task force and reviewers and shall:

(a) Orient and train the task force and reviewers regarding departmental policy

and review procedures; and

(b) Make available existing academic standards, the model curriculum framework

established in KRS 158.6451, and selection criteria and evaluation forms for

the review of instructional materials.

(4) The instructional materials reviewers shall develop subject specific criteria for

instructional materials selection and evaluation, including but not limited to the

following areas:

(a) Subject content, including its alignment to the academic standards and

expectations established in KRS 158.6453;

(b) Audience;

(c) Format, including print, nonprint, and electronic modes of instruction;

(d) Readability and accessibility for all learners;

(e) Accuracy and evidence of a research basis with external validity and

reliability;

(f) Cultural relevance and freedom from bias;

(g) Projected cost of the materials; and

(h) Ancillary materials.

(5) The task force shall develop general criteria, review and approve subject specific

criteria, and provide the standard criteria and evaluation forms to be used by local

schools and school districts in the evaluation, selection, and use of high quality

instructional materials and programs.

(6) (a) The task force shall review the work of the instructional materials reviewers

and, based on this review and any of its own reviews of textbooks or

programs, establish the state-approved list of instructional materials and

programs.

(b) The state-approved list of instructional materials and programs shall be free of

factual error.

(c) Copies of all selection criteria and evaluation forms submitted by the

instructional materials reviewers shall be:

1. Made available to task force members and maintained on file within the

department for the duration of the review cycle; and

2. Provided in a consumer guide to schools and districts to aid in the

selection of high quality instructional materials.156.407 Selection of textbook reviewers -- Review and evaluation process.

(Effective until July 1, 2026)

(1) The chief state school officer shall, not later than February 1 of each year in which

an adoption is to be made, solicit applications for filling twelve (12) positions for

textbook reviewers.

(2) Solicitation shall be statewide for all appointments and include specifications which

ensure candidates have professional expertise in the subject areas to be reviewed if

appropriate for the appointment.

(3) The State Textbook Commission, at its first yearly meeting, shall select textbook

reviewers based on a list of qualified applicants prepared by the chief state school

officer and giving consideration to the recommendations as specified in KRS

156.405.

(4) The Department of Education's curriculum and instruction specialists shall serve as

staff to the commission and reviewers. The staff shall:

(a) Orient and train the commission and reviewers regarding departmental policy

and review procedures;

(b) Make available existing standards and criteria for textbook evaluation; and

(c) Provide supplies and sample textbooks for the review process.

(5) The textbook reviewers shall develop subject specific criteria for textbook review

and evaluation in the following textbook areas:

(a) Subject content, including its relationship to the academic expectations;

(b) Audience;

(c) Format;

(d) Readability;

(e) Accuracy; and

(f) Ancillary materials.

(6) On or before July 15, the State Textbook Commission shall develop general criteria,

review and approve subject specific criteria, and provide the standard criteria and

evaluation forms to be used by the commission and textbook reviewers.

(7) Based upon approval of the standard criteria and evaluation forms, the textbook

reviewers shall review textbooks and programs. The committee shall submit

evaluation forms for each textbook or program reviewed in each of the five (5)

areas, set forth in subsection (5) of this section, with comments related to strengths

and weaknesses in each area.

(8) The State Textbook Commission shall review the work of the textbook reviewers

and based on this review and any of its own reviews of textbooks or programs,

establish a state multiple list of recommended textbooks and programs. The list of

recommended textbooks and programs shall be free of factual error. Copies of all

evaluation forms submitted by the textbook reviewers shall be made available to

commission members and maintained on file within the Department of Education

for the cycle length of the books. For those materials placed on the state multiple

list of recommended textbooks and programs, the Department of Education shall

publish a consumer guide that includes summary results of the evaluations and any

factual error identified in the textbooks, and shall distribute it to all public schools

in the state.