The Indiana Department of Education will open regional public textbook review sites this week for public comment on the science and health textbooks being considered for adoption in schools statewide.

Public textbook review is a legal requirement of the state’s textbook adoption process. In addition to the evaluation forms, interested parties may offer verbal testimony on Sept. 2, when the Textbook Advisory Council makes its recommendations to the State Board of Education.

The Northwest Indiana review site is at Purdue University Calumet, at the Teacher Education Resource Center, 2200 169th St., Hammond. The phone is 219-989-2677.

The public review ends Sept. 1 and evaluation forms will be available at each review site. All public evaluations will be presented for consideration at the council’s Sept. 2 meeting. Approved textbooks are adopted for use in schools for a six-year cycle.

Information on IDOE’s Text-book Adoption can be found at: www.doe.in.gov/opd/textbook/