Unity on Textbooks Is Essential

California is investing $1 billion in new textbooks to help ensure that what’s taught in the classroom is compatible with the state’s new academic standards and the material covered in statewide standardized tests. The State Board of Education, which is meeting this week in Sacramento, shouldn’t allow those funds to be spent on instructional materials not on the state-approved list or to be diverted to any other purpose.

The approved texts in reading, math, science, history and social science were selected after stringent reviews to ensure that the materials were specifically aligned with the new standards. A consistent policy is needed to ensure that they’re used. It’s important to note that there are ample textbook choices, more than a dozen, for each subject; no single text is being forced on districts.

This policy will disappoint some educators in a few school districts that have achieved solid results with materials that are not on the state-approved list. But all districts may use discretionary funds and other supplemental money to purchase materials that are not on the state list. If they do so, they must not let the alternative materials shortchange their students, who will be required, no matter which textbook is used, to demonstrate mastery of certain information or risk being held back a grade or denied a high school diploma. In addition, the new academic requirements are statewide, and students who move from one district to another should be able to continue to study common material.

As California raises academic expectations, the State Board of Education must keep public schools on course: It’s only reasonable that textbooks be consistent throughout the state.