The Board of Education must conduct an annual public hearing to make a determination that every pupil has sufficient textbooks and instructional materials in the core areas of language arts, mathematics, science and history/social studies consistent with the content and cycles of the state framework; every student enrolled in foreign language and health have sufficient textbooks and instructional materials; science laboratory equipment is sufficient for science lab courses in grades 9 through 12.
Education Code Section 60119, as amended by the Williams Settlement legislation, defines “sufficient textbooks or instructional materials” to mean that “each pupil, including English learners, has a standards-aligned textbook or instructional materials, or both, to use in class and to take home. Districts are not required to provide two sets of textbooks or instructional materials for each pupil. Sufficient textbooks or instructional materials, as defined does not include photocopied sheets from only a portion of a textbook or instructional materials copied to address a shortage. Through 2017-18, “sufficiency” also means that all pupils within the District who are enrolled in the same course must have standards-aligned textbooks or instructional materials from the same adoption, consistent with Education Code Sections 60119 and 60422.
Additionally, if a district provides students with standards-aligned electronic textbooks, each student must have the electronic equipment necessary to access the materials in class and at home in order to meet the sufficiency standard. If a district provides students with standards aligned web-based instructional materials, each student must have the electronic equipment necessary to access the materials and an active Internet connection in class and at home.
If any students cannot access the electronic instructional materials at home because they do not have the necessary electronic equipment and/or active Internet connection, the district may still meet the sufficiency standard if those students receive printed instructional materials that are identical in content to the electronic or web-based instructional materials.
Alternatively, school districts may meet the sufficiency standard by providing those students with the electronic equipment and/or active Internet connections they need at home to access the materials, but they cannot require students or their parents/guardians to pay for the electronic equipment and/or Internet connections.
If insufficiency of materials is determined, the resolution must explain the reasons for the insufficiency and the action to be taken to remedy the insufficiency. The attached resolution provides all of the information.