RD349 - Open Education Curriculum Board Annual Report - November 2012


Executive Summary:
During the 2010 Session of the General Assembly, Senator John C. Watkins acted as chief patron of SB 241, a bill introduced to establish an Open Education Curriculum Board (OECB). The purpose of the Board was to designate qualifying entities as open education Consortiums and set standards for submission of education materials and subsequent licensing of education curriculum developed by the Consortiums. The bill was passed by the 2010 General Assembly and signed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. The Board consists of ten members, including one representative of an open education nonprofit entity, one textbook publisher, one active teacher, three members of the House, one member of the Senate, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Technology. The chair and vice chair are selected by the Board members.

During the 2012 Session of the General Assembly, Senator Watkins proposed revisions to the original legislation which was approved by the General Assembly. As a result, the Open Education Curriculum Board is now an advisory board whose purpose is to advise the Governor and Board of Education on all matters related to the development and use of open educational resources.