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Instructional Materials Adoption Process

Major steps in the state adoption process for K-8 instructional materials.

This table describes, in sequence, the major events in the California kindergarten through grade eight instructional materials adoption process. The initial events do not occur on any given timeline; however, subsequent events typically occur during specific months. For specific dates on a particular subject-matter adoption currently in progress, please visit the subject matter’s California Department of Education (CDE) instructional materials web page.

Event Typical Timeline
State Board of Education (SBE) adoption of the curriculum framework for a specific subject matter, including its chapter on the subsequent state instructional materials adoption evaluation criteria (California Education Code [EC] Section 60200[b][1]) Following subject-matter framework development

Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) recommends:

  • Schedule of Significant Events
  • Reviewer application
  • Evaluation criteria map and standards maps
Following subject-matter framework development

SBE approves:

  • Notice of Intent to Hold Adoption (Title 5, California Code of Regulations [5 CCR] Section 9517.3)
  • Schedule of Significant Events (5 CCR Section 9517.3)
  • Reviewer application questions (5 CCR Section 9513[a])
  • Evaluation criteria map and standards maps (5 CCR Section 9510[u])
Following subject-matter framework development
CDE establishes a comprehensive website for the specific subject matter adoption where all formal documents are posted. January in the year preceding the adoption year
Reviewer online application period (5 CCR Section 9513[a]) April–September in the year preceding the adoption year
Small publisher fee reduction requests due (EC Section 60213) November in the year preceding the adoption year
IQC recommends reviewers (5 CCR Section 9512[b]) November in the year preceding the adoption year
SBE appoints reviewers (5 CCR Section 9512[a])
SBE considers small publisher fee reduction requests (EC Section 60213[d][1])
January of the adoption year
Publisher Invitation to Submit meeting (5 CCR Section 9517) January of the adoption year
Publisher intent to submit forms due (5 CCR Section 9517.3[a][3]) February of the adoption year
Publisher submission forms due (5 CCR Section 9517[c]) March of the adoption year
Publisher fees due (EC Section 60213) April of the adoption year
Reviewer training week (5 CCR Section 9512[h]) April of the adoption year
Publisher complete instructional programs due (5 CCR Section 9517[e]) May of the adoption year
CDE posts links to student-facing materials of all participating publishers’ programs May of the adoption year
CDE posts recommendations for submitting public comment and begins to collect any public comment for later submission to the IQC and SBE May of the adoption year
Reviewer deliberations week; review panels make program adoption recommendations in a “Report of Findings” for every participating program (5 CCR Section 9519[i]) July of the adoption year
CDE posts online all “Reports of Findings” for participating programs July of the adoption year
IQC holds meeting to receive oral and additional written public comment (5 CCR Section 9524[a][1]) August of the adoption year
IQC makes program adoption recommendations (5 CCR Section 9524[a][5]) September of the adoption year
SBE holds meeting to receive public comment

SBE takes action on program recommendations and adopts or does not adopt all participating publisher programs (EC Section 60200)
November of the adoption year
CDE posts online final adoption documents, including SBE Adoption Report December of the adoption year
CDE works with SBE-adopted publishers on final administrative matters January–February of the year following the adoption
Publishers market SBE-adopted programs for school district fall implementation Year following the adoption

 

Questions:   Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division | CFIRD@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0881
Last Reviewed: Friday, June 21, 2024
Recently Posted in Curriculum and Instruction Resources