Discussion of Proposed Cycle for the Adoption of Instructional Materials
September 23, 2010
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: The Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 31, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt a review and adoption cycle for textbooks for elementary grade levels, including prekindergarten, and secondary grade levels for each subject in the required curriculum. At the conclusion of the 80th Texas legislative session it was requested that the agency explore options to reduce the purchase cost of adopted instructional materials. This item will provide the board
an opportunity to discuss the review and adoption cycle in light of the budgetary constraints that are projected for the 82nd Texas legislative session.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §31.022.
BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for SBOE discussion and recommendation for future action regarding options for the review and adoption cycle and the development of new proclamations.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE approved a review and adoption cycle for instructional materials that calls for single-subject adoptions beginning with Proclamation 1998. The review and adoption cycle was amended in May 2000 and again in July 2004. Due to funding constraints, Proclamation 2003 was not issued. In accordance with Section 13.04 of House Bill 1 (79th Texas Legislature, Third Called Session), Proclamation 2006 was not issued. House Bill 188, passed by the 80th Texas Legislature, repealed the moratorium on proclamations and outlined guidelines for developing a new review and adoption cycle. The SBOE conducted a work session in August 2007 to explore options for a new review and adoption cycle. In September 2007 the board unanimously voted to approve the new adoption cycle for foundation and enrichment subjects by putting kindergarten systems in Proclamation 2011 and engineering in Proclamation 2012. In May 2008, the SBOE removed English for Speakers of Other Languages I and II from Proclamation 2011 and added it to Proclamation 2010 and removed English as a Second Language, grades K-8, from Proclamation 2010 and added it to Proclamation 2011.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Approval of a new cycle for the adoption of instructional materials and resumption of issuance of proclamations for instructional materials.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: House Bill 188, passed by the 80th Texas Legislature, requires that proclamation be named by the school year in which the materials are intended to be made available in the classrooms. As a result, Proclamations 2007 and 2008 were renamed and are now known as Proclamations 2010 and 2011, respectively. The SBOE adopted instructional materials under Proclamation 2010 in November of 2009 and is scheduled to adopt instructional materials under Proclamation 2011 in November of 2010.
A draft of Proclamation 2012 was presented to the SBOE for discussion in March 2009. Subjects and grade levels proposed for Proclamation 2012 included Science, grades K-12; Spanish Science, grades K-6; and Engineering. The board postponed action on Proclamation 2012 until May 2010. In May 2010, the board voted to postpone action on Proclamation 2012 indefinitely. Also in May 2010, the board issued a Request for Supplemental Science Materials for grades 5-8 and Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), and Physics.
FISCAL IMPACT: The estimated cost to the state for new instructional materials in each subject is based on subjects included in the proclamation, on maximum costs established by the board for each subject, and the estimated number of units that will be purchased. The new textbook credit system may also impact the cost to the state.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: An established cycle for adoption and distribution of instructional materials will provide school districts with up-to-date instructional materials. It will also allow the publishing industry sufficient time to plan for upcoming adoptions, and new instructional materials will be based on the refined and aligned Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Norma Torres-Martinez, Deputy Associate Commissioner
Standards and Alignment
John Lopez, Managing Director
Instructional Materials and Educational Technology
Attachment:
Current Adoption Cycle, Revised May 2008