In January, the State Board of Education voted to commence the first review of instructional materials under the new Instructional Materials Review and Adoption (IMRA) process resulting from HB 1605. While significant changes will occur, certain current practices will remain the same for now.
Proclamation 2024, the adoption of K-12 science, CTE courses, and technology applications, will proceed under current rules, the same as past adoptions. Most districts are finalizing those decisions in the next two months. These products will not qualify for the additional funding in HB 1605 but will be funded through the Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment (IMTA), as they have been in the past.
Additionally, local districts retain local decision-making authority for use of the IMTA funds, and the allowable expenses have not changed. Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment | Texas Education Agency . After being cut in the 2021 legislative session, the IMTA was restored to over $1 billion statewide in 2023. While the SBOE has the authority under HB 1605 to review supplemental resources for assessment, intervention, dyslexia, and other areas, they have not called for these materials to review yet.
At the January meeting, the SBOE approved final rubrics for the first grades and subjects they will review: Math K-12, English Language Arts K-8, and Spanish Language Arts K-6. The Suitability Rubric, which aligns to current state laws regarding the content of instructional materials, was also approved. Rubrics are posted at House Bill 1605 SBOE Meeting Resources | Texas Education Agency
Publishers will submit instructional materials this spring for review in the summer, a change from the previous process, which gave publishers 18—24 months from the time of the announcement to the submission of materials. Similarly, the time period for review has been compressed: the Texas Education Agency staff will present preliminary recommendations from the review at the September 2024 SBOE meeting. The SBOE will determine which instructional materials to place on their approved list at the November 2024 meeting. In December of 2024, the new resources will be available in an updated EMAT system for local districts to select, with implementation in the 2025-25 school year. The additional $40/student funding in HB 1605 will be available through EMAT for SBOE approved materials. An overview of the new process is posted on the TEA website at this link.
TEA has published a call for reviewers on the Texas Resource Review website at this link: IMRA 2024 Cycle Reviewers Needed | Texas Education Agency. Instructional materials review teams will use an expanded set of criteria under the new IMRA process. In addition to reviewing the TEKS alignment, the new IMRA process requires reviewers to evaluate quality and suitability, using the SBOE-approved rubrics. Reviewers will also identify any factual errors. At the SBOE meeting, TEA staff estimated the review would take 3 months, with a projected start date in mid-May.
TEA staff will ensure instructional materials meet requirements for a parent portal, so that parents may review student materials used locally, starting 30 days prior to the beginning of the school year. The parent portal must be accessible through a district’s learning management system. While parent portals are not required for instructional materials that are not submitted for SBOE approval, HB 1605 does give parents a process for requesting the review of any instructional material their student uses. Proposed Chapter 67 rules will become effective 20 days after filing in the Texas Register and may be found here: 23-12-67bd.pdf (texas.gov)
Given the changes coming, what steps might local districts consider now? To start with, check the TEA HB 1605 website for new information regularly House Bill 1605 and IMRA | Texas Education Agency. Encourage qualified educators to apply to participate in the review process (see link to application above). Communicate with your SBOE member to ensure they are aware of your priorities and feedback. Lastly, consider your students’ needs and district priorities, developing local policy and rationale for determining which SBOE instructional materials will be evaluated for local use.