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California Budget Changes Offer Opportunities for Educational PublishersMarch 16, 2010—At the AEP California Legislative Event, members discussed the recent statewide budget crisis and the suspension of textbook adoptions with key members of the Assembly and Senate Education Committees. What the attendees learned is that while adoptions were suspended for purely budgetary reasons, the result is that supplemental publishers now have the opportunity to be a part of the discussion and talk to CA legislators about opening the adoptions to a wider array of educational resources. All of the speakers, including Senate Education Committee Chair Gloria Romero, said that the budget is currently driving all of their decisions. When the financial crisis hit California, the legislature removed the restrictions on the millions of dollars earmarked for textbook adoptions. Schools and districts could still purchase textbooks with the money, but they could also use it for any other education spending. Since many schools would no longer have the funds to buy new books, the legislature suspended adoptions. The legislature was not even considering that they might change the adoption system. Through AEP’s event, though, many committee members are now aware that the California process was restrictive and did not allow for the inclusion of supplemental materials. During meetings with individual Senators and Assembly members, the attendees discussed how children need a range of learning resources in order for them to meet college- and career-ready education goals. The message was: Supplemental products complement the text, providing in-depth instruction and engaging students who, for whatever reason, are unable to learn successfully with the textbook alone. AEP would like to open the adoption process up to a wider array of materials. “We told the legislators that when they decide to reinstitute adoptions, we want to be a part of the conversation,” said Charlene Gaynor, CEO of AEP. “Although they didn’t intend it, suspending the adoptions is a bellwether for change, and AEP is interested in discussing how to open the process so that a niche publisher can apply for adoption in their specific field.” While the education committees may not have been rethinking the adoption process before the event, Senator Romero did ask Ms. Gaynor and the attendees for their ideas for best adoption practices. Now, AEP is asking for member input. If you could design a state adoption system, what would it be? What is the ideal process? Send your ideas to Stacey Pusey, AEP Content Manager. | |||||
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