September 10, 2024 Committee of the Full Board Item 2
Update on the Review of the Instructional Materials Submitted for Approval by the State Board of Education Under Instructional Materials Review and Approval Cycle 2024
September 10, 2024
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: The State Board of Education (SBOE) 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, quality and suitability in summer 2024. Instructional materials are scheduled for approval by the SBOE in November 2024. This item provides an opportunity for staff to update the board on the status of the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024 instructional materials review. Additionally, staff will present to the board an after-action review on the current year’s cycle, including IMRA rubrics, instructional materials selection for this cycle and IMRA reviewer selection.
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. The board 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 staff to update the board on the status of the IMRA Cycle 2024 instructional materials review.
Staff will also present an after-action review on the current year’s cycle, including IMRA rubrics, instructional materials selection for this cycle and IMRA reviewer selection.
A public hearing regarding instructional materials submitted for adoption by the SBOE under IMRA Cycle 2024 is presented as a separate item in this agenda.
Staff Member Responsible:
Colin Dempsey, Director, District Operations, Technology, and Sustainability Supports