OAR 581-011-0155: Criteria for the Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

(1)(a) The State Board of Education shall: (A) Adopt instructional materials criteria according to the subject matter cycle adopted by the board and described in OAR 581-011-0165. (B) Review the criteria which will be used in the evaluation of instructional materials submitted for adoption and adopt the criteria no later than its January meeting in the scheduled adoption year. (b) If the January meeting is cancelled, adopt in the board meeting held immediately following January 31 in the scheduled adoption year. (2) Instructional materials criteria committees shall develop the criteria according to the following procedures: (a) Instructional materials criteria committees shall be appointed by and work under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Education. (b) A criteria committee in each subject area for which state adoptions are planned shall be appointed in a time and manner determined by the Department. The committee shall recommend categories and draft criteria to be used in evaluating the instructional materials submitted for consideration. (c) Committees shall conduct work in the fall of the year preceding the adoption year. (d)(A) The Department shall present the final draft of the criteria to the State Board of Education by the Board's January meeting in the year of the adoption. (B) If the January meeting is cancelled, the Department will present in the board meeting held immediately following January 31 in the scheduled adoption year. (e) Each committee shall be chaired by the Department of Education specialist in the particular subject area for which criteria are being developed. In the event that there is not a staff specialist in a particular subject field, the Department may obtain a specialist to serve as chair. (f) Each committee shall include no less than five members selected from among Oregon classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and others having experience and expertise in the subject area under consideration. (g) Travel, lodging, and meal expenses for committee meetings are to be reimbursed in accordance with state policy. (h) An honorarium may be awarded to each committee member who completes all the duties as assigned, to be determined by the Department of Education. The honorarium is to be determined based on current Department of Education compensation for similar tasks. (i) Criteria committees shall develop criteria which set the standard for selection of instructional materials by evaluation committees and the State Board of Education. These criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the major concepts of the Content Standards and Essential Skills established by the State Board of Education for Oregon schools; the criteria shall require instructional materials to reflect respect for all people, regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, color, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, immigration or citizenship status, or gender identity.