Portland school board agrees on new science textbooks -- but might not buy them due to money woes
Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 8:27 PM Updated: Tuesday, March 01, 2011, 12:20 AM
Portland's middle and high schools teach science from a hodgepodge of textbooks and kits, meaning students get inequitable levels of rigor and laboratory experience in science class from school to school, district officials say.
Based on recommendations from the school district's science experts and teachers, the school board agreed Monday night on a single textbook series that should be used in every school to teach science in grades six through eight.
They also picked a uniform set of textbooks that should be used to teach physics, chemistry and Advanced Placement- and International Baccalaureate-level biology, physics and chemistry.