Secondary Science Curriculum Adoption Committee 2023-2024-5721

The purpose of the Secondary Science Curriculum Adoption Committee is to review, evaluate, and recommend quality and appropriate textbooks and instructional resources for approval by the district Governing Board.  

Location: SUSD Oak Campus, 7501 E Oak Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Location: Mohave District Annex, 8500 E Jackrabbit Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Dates: Monday, December 11, 2023 – Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Times: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm SUSD school days
Additional Hours: Monday, February 5, 2024 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Additional Information: Extended hours and access during non-school days is available upon request with advanced notice. Please contact Tiffany Sorensen – tsorensen@susd.org.

AP Environmental Science

• Environmental Science for the AP Course, BFW

Environmental Science

• Environmental Science: Sustaining Your World, Cengage National Geographic

Earth and Space Science, Honors Earth and Space Science

• EarthComm: Project-Based Earth and Space System Science, Activate Learning

Oceanography/Astronomy

• Essentials of Oceanography, 13e, Pearson
• Foundations of Astronomy: High School Edition, Cengage

Honors Astrophysics

• Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy, 9e, McGraw Hill
• Astronomy, 2e, OpenStax

Materials that best meet the criteria and selected by the committee for further exploration.  This includes presentations from vendors to provide additional information. Click on the material name below to view the presentation. 

AP Environmental Science

• Exploring Environmental Science for AP, Cengage National Geographic
• Environmental Science for the AP Course, BFW

Environmental Science

• Environmental Science: Sustaining Your World, Cengage National Geographic
• Environmental Science: Inquiry & Application, McGraw Hill

Earth and Space Science, Honors Earth and Space Science

• Inspire Earth Science, McGraw Hill
• HMH Science Dimensions Earth & Space Science, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• EarthComm: Project-Based Earth and Space System Science, Activate Learning

Oceanography/Astronomy

• Essentials of Oceanography, 13e, Pearson
• Astronomy Today, 9e, Pearson
• Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science, 10e, Cengage National Geographic
• Foundations of Astronomy: High School Edition, Cengage

Honors Astrophysics

• The Cosmic Perspective, 10e, Pearson
• Astronomy Today, 9e, Pearson
• Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy, 9e, McGraw Hill
• Astronomy, 2e, OpenStax (no presentation)

Curriculum Materials are submitted for the first round of review.

AP Environmental Science

• Exploring Environmental Science for AP, Cengage National Geographic
• Environmental Science for the AP Course, BFW
• Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7e, Pearson

Environmental Science

• Environmental Science: Sustaining Your World, Cengage National Geographic
• Environmental Science: Inquiry & Application, McGraw Hill
• Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships, McGraw Hill
• Environmental Science: Your World, Your Turn, SAVVAS

Earth and Space Science, Honors Earth and Space Science

• Inspire Earth Science, McGraw Hill
• HMH Science Dimensions Earth & Space Science, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Earth Science, 15e, Pearson
• Earth Science, SAVVAS
• EarthComm: Project-Based Earth and Space System Science, Activate Learning
• Earth + Space Science, Cengage National Geographic

Oceanography/Astronomy, Honors Astrophysics

• Marine Science, 2e, McGraw Hill
• Essentials of Oceanography, 13e, Pearson
• Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science, 10e, Cengage National Geographic
• Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy, 9e, McGraw Hill
• Astronomy Today, 9e, Pearson
• Foundations of Astronomy: High School Edition, Cengage
• The Cosmic Perspective, 10e, Pearson
• Astronomy, 2e, OpenStax

Zoology/Botany, Honors Zoology/Botany

• Plant Biology, 15e, McGraw Hill
• Integrated Principles of Zoology, 18e, McGraw Hill
• Zoology, 11e, McGraw Hill
• Plants and Society, 9e, McGraw Hill

The committee will:

• Learn about current best practices in three-dimensional science instruction including (but not limited to): 

  • explaining phenomena and/or designing solutions to problems, 

  • using science and engineering practices to actively engage students in science learning, 

  • integrating disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts to drive student learning, 

  • science sensemaking, 

  • three-dimensional performance assessments.  

• Learn about Arizona Science Standards and Arizona science education requirements.

• Review rubric criteria to be used to evaluate science textbooks and resources. 

• Review and evaluate science textbooks and instructional resources.

• Recommend textbooks and instructional resources to the Governing Board for formal approval and adoption.

Applicants must be able to meet the following commitments:

1. Review committee meeting agendas and assigned materials prior to each meeting.
2. Complete a conflict-of-interest form and adhere to the norms established for the committee work.
3. Be willing to participate as an unpaid volunteer.
   • Eligible certified employees may receive horizontal move hours for committee meetings occurring after the school day.
4. Attend and actively participate in all committee meetings from October 2023 - February 2024. Meeting dates and times are:  

• • Thursday, October 19: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
  • Monday, October 30: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
  • Monday, December 4: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
  • Monday, December 11: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
  • Monday, December 18: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
  • Monday, January 8: 3:30 - 5:30 pm*
  • Vendor Presentations:
    • Group A (Earth and Space Science, Oceanography/Astronomy): Tuesday, February 6: Time - 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
      • 02/06/2024 Agenda
    • Group C (Astrophysics): Wednesday, February 7: Time - 8:00 am - 12:45 pm
      • 02/07/2024 Agenda
    • Group B (Environmental Science, AP Environmental Science, Zoology/Botany): Thursday, February 8: Time - 8:00 am - 2:15 pm
      • 02/08/2024 Agenda
  • Monday, February 12: 3:30 - 5:30 pm

Additional information about committee meetings:

• Meetings marked with an asterisk* may not be necessary depending on work load of specific groups.
• Committee members will be informed of their assigned smaller work group at the first meeting.
• Specific times for Vendor Presentation days are TBD, and will occur during the school day.  Classroom teachers will be provided with a substitute for their assigned vendor presentation day during the week of February 5th.  

All meetings will take place at SUSD’s Oak Campus: 7501 E. Oak Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85257

The process for textbook and instructional material adoption is important for teachers, students, and parents.  In accordance with Arizona statute, Policy 15-721, SUSD follows a structured process for curriculum review and recommendation for adoption by the Governing Board.  Participation by various stakeholders is vital to the process. As stated in SUSD’s Information for Committee Board Policy, at least one-half (1/2) of the members of any curriculum development committee shall be District certificated teachers who possess content knowledge of the curriculum to be developed.  A three-person selection team comprised of SUSD Cabinet, Ed Services Department and/or Teaching and Learning Department team members will review applications and select applicants to ensure the committee make-up includes content experts and diverse voices from across our learning communities.  All curriculum development committees convened will comply with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law.

The application window to serve on this committee is closed.