September 2017 Committee of the Full Board Item 2
Public Hearing Regarding Instructional Materials Submitted for Adoption by the State Board of Education Under Proclamation 2018
September 13, 2017
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: A public hearing before the State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled for September 13, 2017 in the William B. Travis Building, Room 1-104. Testimony will be presented regarding instructional materials submitted for adoption under Proclamation 2018. This proclamation called for instructional materials covering ethnic studies including, but not limited to, African American studies, Mexican American studies, Asian American studies, and Native American studies, to be used in Special Topics in Social Studies. Products submitted in response to Proclamation 2018 were reviewed in the summer of 2017.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.110 and §31.022.
TEC, §7.110, requires the SBOE to create and implement policies that allow the public an opportunity to appear before and speak to the board.
TEC, §31.022, requires the SBOE to adopt rules to provide for a full and complete investigation of instructional materials for each subject in the foundation curriculum.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE called for instructional materials in Special Topics in Social Studies in Proclamation 2017, which was issued in April 2015 and amended in April 2016. The board did not adopt social studies materials submitted in response to that call. The board issued Proclamation 2018 calling for Special Topics in Social Studies materials covering ethnic studies including, but not limited to, African American studies, Mexican American studies, Asian American studies, and Native American studies in November 2016.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: The SBOE is expected to take action on the adoption of these materials in November 2017.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The Texas Administrative Code, 19 TAC Chapter 66, Subchapter B, allows both Texas and non-Texas residents to testify at public hearings on instructional materials, with priority given to Texas residents. Representatives of publishing companies are allowed to give oral responses to testimony at hearings before the SBOE.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Public comments that are received by September 8, 2017, will be provided to the board as a separate exhibit at the board meeting.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: An update on the review of Proclamation 2018 instructional materials is included as a separate item in this agenda.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Support Services
Kelly Callaway, Senior Director
Instructional Materials
Attachment:
Statutory Citations (PDF, 44KB)