Page 2 - Patrick's Updates
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- December 11, 2025
AP Social Studies Book - Options Good Morning!
A couple of you have asked me about AP resources for social studies - & I wanted to provide you some information.
First, a reminder that the ALSDE does not request submissions for AP Texts for review - most likely because recommendations for texts for AP courses come directly from the College Board, the designer of those exams. By definition, the purchase of AP books becomes an "off-list adoption" item. To assist you with that, we procure "local contracts" for 6 years. That guarantees the availability of the text at a set price for Alabama districts during that time period - which is what happens with a state adoption. Once we have that local contract from their company, we post them on our website for your easy access. You can submit that document to the state after your local board vote, as your "letter" from the publisher for off-list adoption (why they didn't participation in the process......because....they weren't asked to submit). Those
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- December 08, 2025
Textbooks Update Good Afternoon!
Our textbook caravan season is going quite well! We're halfway through the Athens caravan and then head to Mobile and Auburn before Christmas break. In January, we'll finish up with B'ham, Florence, Anniston, and Dothan.
Regarding the lack of action by the State Board....What we know is that Dr. Mackey continues to encourage us at Publishers' Warehouse to move forward with the textbook caravan season. This is in acknowledgement of the fact this is an important window of time for local districts to examine samples and conduct local reviews - in order to ultimately make a decision & have new resource by the start of school. So...the "not falling in love" season continues...you'll have to date a little a longer! Seriously, as your districts begins to reach consensus, I recommend that you internally begin to rank order your preferences, as we wait on the State Board for approval.
A reminder for the remaining 6 caravans: We are planning the schedule and
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- November 13, 2025
Update: Social Studies Textbook Adoption Board Meeting Curriculum Directors & Textbook Coordinators,
We were informed that the social studies textbook adoption would not be on today's board meeting agenda & would be delayed until December. The same thing happened last year with science - and we proceeded on with the caravan schedule. The Board voted at the December meeting.
Dr. Mackey has instructed us to continue with the caravan, as planned & scheduled, & we are appreciative of that direction. Given the timeline & the logistics of printing/shipping, it is in all of our best interests to proceed.
The Textbook Caravan serves as an opportunity to have your team introduced to the series which have been up for review early in your own local process. Continue to remind your textbook committee & the teachers/parents who may review samples or see presentations, that nothing is official until the State Board votes. Your committee should not make final decisions until we know for sure which books
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- November 06, 2025
Textbook Caravan Information Curriculum Directors & Textbook Coordinators:
Good afternoon! We are a week out from the State Board vote on the committee's recommendations for Social Studies & Arts Ed textbooks. Lisa & I will be at the board meeting, & I will email y'all just as soon as Dr. Jones gives us notification of the results.
The textbook caravan season begins right after that, with our first caravans in Montgomery & Tuscaloosa the very next week - & then we have 4 in the month of December - Huntsville, Athens, Mobile, & Auburn. The remaining caravans - Birmingham, Florence, Dothan, & Anniston - will be after the first of the year.
Brief Reminders (Because You Do a Zillion Things):
- Your district registered for caravan with me back in September when you sent me your numbers (there are only 4 districts who are not participating - & 2 that I have not yet heard back from). With those numbers, I have planned drafts of schedules at each location & begun to order lunches.
- Your Regional Inservice
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- October 12, 2025
Arts Education Digital Caravan Curriculum Directors & Textbook Coordinators,
In lieu of a caravan for Arts Education, Publishers' Warehouse is working with publishing companies up for state adoption to conduct a digital caravan of sorts. During October & November, I will push out videos from individual publishing companies along with any informational content which they provide. These will be individual emails, so that you may sort them in your email more easily AND feel free forwarding them on to the appropriate Arts Ed/committee members within your district for their viewing.
Our First Resources: Theatre Resources from Perfection Learning
Basic Drama Projects
https://explore.perfectionlearning.com/assets/68d7053ea1b93d6a95305c65Center Stage: Projects in Theatre Arts
https://explore.perfectionlearning.com/assets/68d7056cecaa8c6607d40c50For more information & for follow-up questions, please contact:
Chris Opstad
Perfection Learning
Phone: (404) 273-2224
Email: copstad@perfectionlearning.com -
- September 22, 2025
Final Textbook Presentation is TODAY
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- September 16, 2025
Training Session This Thursday + A Couple Bits of Info
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- September 09, 2025
Zoom Training Sessions Beginning Soon!
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- August 18, 2025
Complete Caravan Reservations by Friday!
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- August 11, 2025
Reserve Your Space for Textbook Caravan!