Alabama § 16-36-73 - Instructional Materials Review Committees; Approval and Procurement of Instructional Materials; Compensation; Guidelines.

§ 16-36-73. Instructional Materials Review Committees; Approval and Procurement of Instructional Materials; Compensation; Guidelines.

(a) In addition to the use of textbook materials review committees as provided in subsection (h) of Section 16-36-60, the State Superintendent of Education may convene educators and other experts for instructional materials review committees for the purpose of reviewing and rating evidence on the quality and alignment of other specific materials and publishing their findings for educators. The superintendent may also utilize other methods to conduct reviews, such as contracting or consulting with experts. The superintendent and State Board of Education, as necessary, may develop guidelines for the review of other specific instructional materials pursuant to this section, to support districts and ensure the utilization of state funds for the purchase of high quality materials. The process shall include, but not be limited to, publishing statewide lists of vetted and approved instructional materials.

(b) Instructional materials approved by the State Department of Education pursuant to this section, based on a review completed by an instructional materials review committee, may qualify for the department to enter a statewide master service agreement designed to streamline the procurement process for schools and school districts that adopt those instructional materials.

(c) Subject to appropriations, members appointed to other instructional materials review committees may be paid per diem and travel expenses in the same manner as State Textbook Committee members under subsection (g) of Section 16-36-60. Nothing in this section shall limit payment for reviews under department contracts or other consulting methods.

(d) Guidelines developed for the review of other specific instructional materials by instructional materials review committees pursuant to this section, shall be separate from the State Textbook Committee process provided by this article.