R277-469-2. Definitions

  (1) "Commission" means the Instructional Materials Commission established in accordance with Section 53E-4-401.

  (2) "Core" means the core standards adopted by the Board in R277-700.

  (3) "Curriculum alignment" means the assurance that the material taught in a course or grade level matches the standards, and assessments set by the state for specific courses or grade levels.

  (4) "Depository" means a business dedicated to storing and distributing resources or materials in sufficient quantities to insure rapid and efficient delivery to LEAs.

  (5)(a) "Instructional materials" means systematically arranged content in text, digital, Braille and large print, or audio format which may be used within the state curriculum framework for courses of study by students in public schools.

  (b) "Instructional materials" include:

  (i) textbooks;

  (ii) workbooks;

  (iii) computer software;

  (iv) online or internet courses;

  (v) CDs or DVDs; and

  (vi) multiple forms of communication media.

  (c) "Instructional materials" may be used by students or teachers or both as principal sources of study to cover any portion of a course.

  (d) "Instructional materials":

  (i) are designed for student use;

  (ii) may be accompanied by or contain teaching guides and study helps;

  (iii) shall include all textbooks, workbooks, student materials, supplements, and online and digital materials necessary for a student to fully participate in coursework; and

  (iv) shall be high quality, research-based materials for supporting student learning.

  (6) "Independent party" means an entity that is not part of or related to:

  (a) the Board;

  (b) Board staff;

  (c) an employee or governing board member of an LEA;

  (d) the creator or publisher of instructional materials under review; or

  (e) anyone with a financial interest, however minimal, in instructional materials under review.

  (7) "Instructional Materials Commission" or "Commission" means the commission appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 53E-4-401.

  (8) "Integrated instructional program" means any combination of instructional materials for students, including:

  (a) textbooks;

  (b) workbooks;

  (c) software;

  (d) videos;

  (e) electronic devices; or

  (f) similar resources.

  (9) "Instructional materials provider" means a publisher or author and self-publisher who sells or provides instructional materials for use in Utah public schools.

  (10) "LEA" includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

  (11) "Mapping" means creating a visual representation listing topics in instructional materials in correlation to the standards of the Utah core.

  (12) "National Instructional Materials Access Center" or "NIMAC" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection R277-800-2(14).

  (13) "National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard" or "NIMAS" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection R277-800-2(15).

  (14) "Not sampled" means instructional materials that were included in a publisher bid for evaluation by the Instructional Materials Commission, but which were not sampled to the Superintendent or the Commission.

  (15) "Primary instructional material" means a comprehensive basal or Core textbook or integrated instructional program for which a publisher seeks a recommendation for Core subjects designated in Sections R277-700-4 through R277-700-6.

  (16) "Recommended instructional materials" or "RIMs" means the recommended instructional materials searchable database provided as a free service by the Board for the posting of evaluations and alignments to the Core of instructional materials submitted by publishers for review by the Commission and approval of the Board.

  (17) "Recommended limited" means instructional materials that are in limited alignment with the Core requirements or are narrow or restricted in their scope and sequence.

  (18) "Recommended primary" means instructional materials that:

  (a) are in alignment with content, philosophy, and instructional strategies of the Core;

  (b) have been mapped and aligned to the Core, consistent with Section 53E-4-408;

  (c) are appropriate for use by students as principal sources of study; and

  (d) support Core requirements.

  (19) "Recommended student resource" means instructional materials aligned to the Core that are developmentally appropriate, but not intended to be the primary instructional resource, which may provided valuable content information for students.

  (20) "Recommended teacher resource" means instructional materials that are appropriate as resource materials for use by teachers.

  (21) "Reviewed, but not recommended" means instructional materials that an LEA is strongly cautioned against using because the materials:

  (a) do not align with the Core;

  (b) are inaccurate in content;

  (c) include misleading connotations;

  (d) contain undesirable presentation; or

  (e) are in conflict with existing law or rule.

  (22) "Utah State Instructional Materials Access Center" or "USIMAC" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection R277-800-2(21).