1. (1) The chief state school officer shall, not later than one (1) academic year following the academic standards and assessment review process established in KRS 158.6453 for reading and writing, mathematics, science, and social studies, recommend at least eight (8) nominees for instructional materials reviewers who previously served on advisory panels or review committees under KRS 158.6453 for the content area or areas being reviewed.
2. (2) The State Quality Curriculum Task Force shall review and approve instructional materials reviewers based on the chief state school officer's recommendations as specified in KRS 156.405.

3. (3) The department's curriculum and instruction specialists shall serve as staff to the task force and reviewers and shall:

   1. (a) Orient and train the task force and reviewers regarding departmental policy and review procedures; and
   2. (b) Make available existing academic standards, the model curriculum framework established in KRS 158.6451, and selection criteria and evaluation forms for the review of instructional materials.

4. (4) The instructional materials reviewers shall develop subject specific criteria for instructional materials selection and evaluation, including but not limited to the following areas:

   1. (a) Subject content, including its alignment to the academic standards and expectations established in KRS 158.6453;
   2. (b) Audience;
   3. (c) Format, including print, nonprint, and electronic modes of instruction;
   4. (d) Readability and accessibility for all learners;
   5. (e) Accuracy and evidence of a research basis with external validity and reliability;
   6. (f) Cultural relevance and freedom from bias;
   7. (g) Projected cost of the materials; and
   8. (h) Ancillary materials.

5. (5) The task force shall develop general criteria, review and approve subject specific criteria, and provide the standard criteria and evaluation forms to be used by local schools and school districts in the evaluation, selection, and use of high quality instructional materials and programs.

   1. (a) The task force shall review the work of the instructional materials reviewers and, based on this review and any of its own reviews of textbooks or programs, establish the state-approved list of instructional materials and programs.
6. (6)
7. (b) The state-approved list of instructional materials and programs shall be free of factual error.
8. (c) Copies of all selection criteria and evaluation forms submitted by the instructional materials reviewers shall be: 1. Made available to task force members and maintained on file within the 2. department for the duration of the review cycle; and Provided in a consumer guide to schools and districts to aid in the selection of high quality instructional materials.

Effective: July 1, 2026

History: Amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 113, sec. 15, effective July 1, 2026. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 419, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 266, sec. 9, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 476, Pt. IV, sec. 147, effective July 13, 1990. -- Created 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 138, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1988.