The Commonwealth of Virginia has joined Texas and California - which adopt textbooks on a statewide basis - in persuading major publishing companies to issue textbooks aligned with state history and social studies standards, a trend that may continue as other states seek texts aligned to their standards. In a move welcomed by teachers, Harcourt School Publishers and Scott Foresman will issue supplements aligning their national K-3 history texts to Virginia's standards - some of the most specific in the nation for these early grades. Publishers have already adapted to the history standards for grades 4-12, say Virginia education officials. "Virginia becoming textbook power," by Jason Wermers, Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 17, 2002
