December 2023 State Board of Education Item 2
Consideration for Approval of Instructional Materials Review Quality Rubrics
December 13, 2023
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to consider for approval the initial set of quality rubrics for the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§31.003(a), 31.022, and 31.023, as amended by HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
TEC, §31.003(a), permits the SBOE to adopt rules for the adoption, requisition, distribution, care, use, and disposal of instructional materials.
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: Draft IMRA Quality Rubrics were presented at the November 2023 SBOE meeting.
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. In addition, the bill added requirements related to adoption of essential knowledge and skills in TEC, Chapter 28. The SBOE will need to amend rules and take related action to align with the requirements of this legislation.
At the June 2023 meeting, the Committee of the Full Board held a work session to receive an overview presentation on HB 1605 from the commissioner of education and to begin discussing preliminary decisions and next steps. The June 2023 SBOE HB 1605 Work Session Presentation shared during the work session is available on the TEA website at June 2023 SBOE HB 1605 Work Session Slides.
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.
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 will be presented to the board at the December 2023 special-called meeting.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Approve quality rubrics for the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process.
Staff Members Responsible:
Todd Davis, Associate Commissioner of Instructional Strategy
Nicholas Keith, Executive Director of High-Quality Instructional Materials Supports
Colin Dempsey, Director, District Operations, Technology, and Sustainability Supports
Separate Exhibit:
Summary of public feedback on the draft IMRA quality rubrics
(to be provided at the SBOE December 2023 special-called meeting)