January 28, 2025 Committee of the Full Board Item 3
Instructional Materials Review and Approval Cycle 2025 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 updates on Instructional Materials Review Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2025. The presentation will include a preliminary list of materials for review and an overview of the instructional materials market landscape. The board may decide to add instructional materials to the review list for IMRA Cycle 2025.
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.
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 February 2024 meeting, the board approved IMRA Quality Rubrics aligned to K–3 and 4–8 English language arts and reading, K–3 and 4–6 Spanish language arts and reading, and K–12 mathematics.
At the June 2024 meeting, the Committee of the Full Board discussed a multi-year timeline for IMRA cycles including the development of quality rubrics.
The Committee of the Full Board also discussed IMRA Cycle 2025 draft rubrics and the after-action report where there were findings for some improvements to the existing quality rubrics at the September 2024 meeting.
At the November 2024 meeting, the State Board of Education approved the quality rubric for supplemental math for the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process and the quality rubrics, as presented by staff, for the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: TEC, Chapter 31, addresses instructional materials in public education and permits the SBOE to adopt rules for the adoption, requisition, distribution, care, use, and disposal of instructional materials. HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, significantly revises TEC, Chapter 31, including several provisions under SBOE authority. HB 1605 also added a new provision to TEC, Chapter 48, to provide additional funding to school districts and charter schools that adopt and implement SBOE approved materials.
TEC, 31.002 as amended by HB 1605, 88 Regular Session, 2023, expanded the definition of instructional materials to include full-subject, tier-one; partial-subject, tier-one; and supplemental instructional materials.
TEC, 31.023(a)(1)(B) requires that any process developed for the review of instructional materials includes a process for the agency to review materials if the State Board of Education requests by a majority vote that the material be reviewed by the agency.
TEC, 31.023(a)(1) requires the agency to establish, in consultation with and with the approval of the State Board of Education, a process for the annual review of instructional materials by the agency. This process must include a process for the agency to select instructional materials for review.
The Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Process document was approved by the SBOE on February 2, 2024. Step 14 of that process requires the agency to provide a market share analysis to the SBOE. Step 15 of that process requires that the agency present a proposed list of materials to be included in the review cycle to the SBOE and for the SBOE to have the opportunity to, by majority vote, request materials be added to the list of materials to be included in the review cycle.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: The proposal would benefit the public through adding clarity to the instructional materials quality review and approval process resulting from the implementation of House Bill (HB) 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposal.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: A summary of public feedback on the new quality rubrics for supplemental mathematics instructional materials will be presented to the board at the January 2025 meeting.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Approve to include [insert product name, publisher, subject/course and grade band] in IMRA Cycle 2025 as a required instructional material to be reviewed per Texas Education Code, §31.023.(a)(1)(B).
Staff Member Responsible:
Colin Dempsey, Director, District Operations, Technology, and Sustainability Supports
Separate Exhibits:
I. Preliminary List of Products for Review IMRA Cycle 2025
II. Market Landscape Analysis
(separate exhibits to be provided in advance of the January 2025 SBOE meeting)