January 28, 2025 Committee of the Full Board Item 1
Instructional Materials Review and Approval Cycle 2024 Update
January 31, 2025
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for staff to present to the board an update of after-action review on the inaugural Instructional Materials Review Approval (IMRA) process. This will focus on the IMRA reports, as well as the IMRA review and appeals processes for publishers. The board may consider any updates to their process document based on the findings of this after-action report.
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.
At the November 2024 meeting, the board voted to create the List of Approved Instructional Materials and the List of Rejected Instructional Materials from the products reviewed in IMRA Cycle 2024.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The review of IMRA Cycle 2024 instructional materials concluded in the summer 2024. At the September 2024 board meeting, staff presented part 1 of 2 of an after-action review on the current year’s cycle, including IMRA rubrics, instructional materials selection for this cycle and IMRA reviewer selection. This report is part of the SBOE-approved process for IMRA approved in their January-February 2024 meeting.
Staff Members Responsible:
Colin Dempsey, Director, District Operations, Technology, and Sustainability Supports
Amie Phillips, Director, Instructional Materials Review and Approval
Attachments I:
Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Process
Attachments II:
Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024 After-Action Report Part One
Separate Exhibit:
Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024 After-Action Report Part Two
(to be provided in advance of the January 2025 SBOE meeting)