Work Session on Discussion of Proposed Cycle for the Adoption of Instructional Materials
November 16, 2011
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. This item will provide the board an opportunity to discuss the review and adoption cycle.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 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: In September 2007, the board unanimously voted to approve the new adoption cycle for foundation and enrichment subjects. 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. In May 2010, the board postponed indefinitely Proclamation 2012, which was scheduled to call for materials in Science and Engineering. In its place, the board issued a Request for Supplemental Science Materials for science, grades 5-8; biology; chemistry; Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC); and physics. In November 2010, the board decided to postpone further discussion of a new adoption cycle due to the lack of new data available regarding options for the adoption cycle. In September 2011, the board discussed the need for revisions to the adoption cycle due to changes to Chapter 31 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) by the 82nd Texas Legislature.
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 2009 and adopted instructional materials under Proclamation 2011 in November 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 science, grades 5-8; biology; chemistry; Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC); and physics. In July 2011, the SBOE adopted instructional materials under the request for supplemental science materials.
In 2011, the 82nd Texas Legislature made significant changes to Chapter 31 of the TEC that affect the review, adoption, acquisition, and distribution of instructional materials. The new statute requires the SBOE to organize the adoption cycle for subjects in the foundation curriculum so that not more than one-fourth of the instructional materials for subjects in the foundation curriculum are reviewed each biennium. The statute was also amended to require the board to investigate instructional materials for each subject in the foundation curriculum every eight years instead of every six years. In adopting the cycle, the board is not required to review and adopt instructional materials for all grade levels in a single year. The board shall give priority to instructional materials in subjects for which the essential knowledge and skills have been substantially revised and for which assessments are required under Subchapter B, Chapter 39, including career and technology courses that satisfy foundation curriculum requirements as provided by Section 28.002(n); foundation curriculum subjects for which the essential knowledge and skills have been substantially revised, including career and technology courses that satisfy foundation curriculum requirements as provided by Section 28.002(n); foundation curriculum subjects for which the essential knowledge and skills have not been substantially revised, including career and technology courses that satisfy foundation curriculum requirements as provided by Section 28.002(n); and enrichment curriculum subjects.
FISCAL IMPACT: The estimated cost for new instructional materials in each subject is based on subjects included in the proclamation and the estimated number of units that will be purchased. Senate Bill 6, passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature created an Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) for the purchase of instructional materials, technological equipment, and technology-related services. In addition to directly purchasing instructional materials for districts from their IMA, the state also disburses IMA funds to each district for purchasing additional instructional materials, technology-related services, and technological equipment. The allotment calculations for each district are provided over a two-year period for school years 2011-2013.
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
John Lopez, Managing Director
Instructional Materials and Educational Technology
Attachment:
Current Adoption Cycle for Foundation and Enrichment Subjects, Revised May 2008