June 2022 Committee on Instruction Item 4

Approval of Updates and Substitutions to Adopted Instructional Materials

June 17, 2022

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT

SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the committee and board to approve update and/or substitution requests received since the last board meeting. The updated content has been reviewed by subject-area specialists and determined to address the pertinent student expectations in a manner equal to the content initially reviewed and approved by the state review panel.  

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §31.003 and §31.022.

TEC, §31.003, permits the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt rules for the adoption, requisition, distribution, care, use, and disposal of instructional materials. 

TEC, §31.022(b), requires the SBOE to adopt rules to provide for a full and complete investigation of instructional materials for each subject in the foundation curriculum and for each subject in the enrichment curriculum.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: In February 2015, the SBOE approved a substitution request for three science products, kindergarten–grade 2, from Discovery Education. In April 2016, the SBOE approved an update request for two math products, grades 6–8, from Texas State University. In April 2019, the Committee on Instruction (COI) postponed a vote on an update request for three English language arts and reading products, grades 6–8, from ThinkCERCA. The board approved the update request from ThinkCERCA at the June 2019 meeting. At the September 2019 meeting, the SBOE postponed a vote on an update request from EDUSPARK, Inc. for four Spanish language arts and reading products, kindergarten, and grades 1, 4, and 5. The request from EDUSPARK, Inc. was approved by the SBOE at the November 2019 meeting. In January 2020, a substitution request from Origo Education for English and Spanish math, kindergarten–grade 5, was submitted to the COI but no action was taken. In April 2020, the SBOE approved the substitution request from Origo Education for English and Spanish math, kindergarten–grade 5. In September 2020, the SBOE approved an update request from Learning A–Z for six English language arts and reading products, kindergarten–grade 2. In November 2020, the SBOE approved an update request from Learning A–Z for three English language arts and reading products, grades 2–4. In January 2021, the SBOE approved an update request from Learning A–Z for English language arts and reading, grade 5 and a substitution request from QuaverEd for their prekindergarten product. In April 2021, the SBOE approved an update request from EDUSPARK, Inc. for English and Spanish prekindergarten products and a substitution request from Cheng & Tsui Co. Inc. for their Chinese Level I languages other than English product. In June 2021, the SBOE approved an update request from Learning A–Z for English language arts and reading, grades 2–4. In September 2021, the SBOE approved update requests from The Children’s Learning Institute at UT Health Science Center for prekindergarten English and Spanish. In November 2021, the SBOE approved a substitution request from Cheng & Tsui and an update request from Learning A–Z, grades 1–5. In January 2022, the SBOE approved update requests from Learning A–Z, English language arts and reading, grades 2 and 3. In April 2022, the SBOE approve a substitution request from Learning Without Tears for kindergarten handwriting, and an update request from Learning A–Z for English language arts and reading, grades K–4.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: Rules in 19 TAC §66.75 permit a publisher to submit a request for approval to substitute an updated edition of state-adopted instructional materials. The rule also requires that all requests for updates involving content in state-adopted instructional materials be approved by the SBOE prior to their introduction into state-adopted instructional materials. 

Rules in 19 TAC §66.76 permit a publisher to submit a request for approval to substitute a new edition of state-adopted instructional materials. The rule also requires that all requests for updates involving content used in determining the product's eligibility for adoption must be approved by the SBOE prior to their introduction into state-adopted instructional materials.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

                        Approve the request from Learning A–Z to update content in its product Raz Plus
                        ELL Texas Edition, grades 2–5, adopted under Proclamation 2019.  

Staff Members Responsible:
Melissa Lautenschlager, Director, Instructional Materials and Implementation
Amie Williams, Director, Instructional Materials Review and Procurement

Attachment I:             
Learning A–Z English language arts and reading, grade 2

Attachment II:            
Learning A–Z English language arts and reading, grade 3

Attachment III:          
Learning A–Z English language arts and reading, grade 4

Attachment IV:          
Learning A–Z English language arts and reading, grade 5

Separate Exhibit:        
Additional Updates and/or Substitutions Submitted for Approval
(to be provided at the June 2022 SBOE meeting)