November 18, 2024 Committee of the Full Board Item 2
Consideration of Instructional Materials Offered for Approval Under Instructional Materials Review and Approval Cycle 2024
November 22, 2024
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: The agency issued the Request for Instructional Materials (RFIM) in February 2024, calling for instructional materials for full-subject, tier-one instructional materials for K–5 English and Spanish language arts and reading and K–12 mathematics and partial-subject, tier-one instructional materials for K–3 English and Spanish phonics. All materials submitted in response to RFIM 2024 were reviewed for standards alignment, factual errors, quality and suitability in summer 2024. This item provides an opportunity for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to receive the final report from the commissioner of education on materials under consideration for Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024 and vote to place instructional materials on the approved list, take no action, or place materials on the rejected list outlined in Texas Education Code (TEC), §31.022.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §31.022, and §31.023, as amended by HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
TEC, §31.022, as amended by HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, requires the SBOE to review instructional materials that have been provided to the board by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under TEC, §31.023.
TEC, §31.023, as amended by HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, requires the commissioner of education to establish, in consultation with and with the approval of the SBOE, a process for the annual review of instructional materials by TEA. In conducting a review under this section, TEA must use a rubric developed by TEA in consultation with and approved by the SBOE.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: At the August-September 2023 meeting, the Committee of the Full Board discussed the IMRA process and discussed the approach to developing the quality rubric criteria and process.
At the November 2023 and December 2023 meetings, the board discussed the proposed IMRA process and provided feedback to TEA staff. They also approved a selection process for IMRA reviewers.
At the November 2023 meeting, the board discussed criteria for the suitability and appropriateness of instructional materials for the subject and grade level for which the materials are designed to be used in the instructional materials review and approval process outlined in HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
At the December 2023 meeting, the board approved the criteria. At the January-February 2024 meeting, the board approved adjustments to the suitability rubric to further clarify the manner in which suitability criteria will be applied as part of the IMRA process.
At the January-February 2024 meeting, the board approved a final set of quality rubrics for the inaugural IMRA review, approved a process document, and adopted administrative rules related to the new IMRA process.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The review of IMRA Cycle 2024 instructional materials concluded in the summer 2024. This item provides an opportunity for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to receive the final report from the Commissioner of Education on materials under consideration for IMRA Cycle 2024 and vote to place instructional materials on the approved list, take no action, or place materials on the rejected list outlined in TEC §31.022.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Require that publishers of the following products make all agreed to changes listed in the Individual Product Reports;
Require that all instructional materials meet established manufacturing standards and specifications;
Require that all electronic instructional materials comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Version 2.1, level AA and the technical standards required by the Federal Rehabilitation Act, Section 508;
Require that materials provide access to a parent portal as required by TEC, §31.154;
Approve changes and corrections submitted in response to written comments and public testimony; and
Place on the List of Approved Materials all eligible products on the IMRA Cycle 2024 List of Instructional Materials Eligible for Approval.
Staff Members Responsible:
Colin Dempsey, Director, District Operations, Technology, and Sustainability Supports
Amie Phillips, Director, Instructional Materials Review and Approval
Separate Exhibit I:
IMRA Cycle 2024 List of Instructional Materials Eligible for Approval
Separate Exhibit II:
IMRA Cycle 2024 List of Instructional Materials NOT Eligible for Approval
Separate Exhibit III:
Individual Product Reports
(separate exhibits to be provided in advance of the November 2024 SBOE meeting)