September 2019 Committee of the Full Board Item 3

Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations Related to the Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation 

September 13, 2019

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY:  The State Board of Education (SBOE) created an ad hoc committee to review the Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation (IMQE) process.  The committee will share its findings and recommendations regarding the IMQE process, which is now called Texas Resource Review.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Texas Education Code (TEC), §§31.022, 31.081, and 31.082.

TEC, §31.022 grants the State Board of Education (SBOE) the authority to review and adopt instructional materials.

TEC, §31.081 requires the commissioner to develop and maintain a web portal to assist school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in the selection of instructional materials.

TEC, §31.082 requires the commissioner to contract with a private entity to conduct an independent analysis of instructional material submitted by a publisher for inclusion in the web portal developed under §31.081.

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

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION:  The SBOE chair appointed an ad hoc committee of SBOE members to study the IMQE project and make recommendations about how the quality evaluation project can work in conjunction with the board’s instructional materials review and adoption process. The members of the ad hoc committee are Marty Rowley, chair; Barbara Cargill, Pat Hardy, Marisa Perez-Diaz, and Pam Little.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION:  TEC, §31.081 and §31.082, added by HB 3526 and SB 810, 85th Texas Legislature, 2017, requires the Texas Education Agency to develop and maintain a web portal that includes general information for each material submitted for review, evaluation of the quality of the material and the extent to which it covers the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and serves as a repository of open educational resources.

The SBOE has long held the authority to review and adopt instructional materials. SBOE members wanted to learn more about the IMQE pilot and how this project will be aligned with the board’s process. The ad hoc committee may bring proposed recommendations dealing with procedures, policy or reporting requirements to the September board meeting.

PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS:  School districts and charter schools will have clear procedures to follow when reviewing or selecting instructional material.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

    Adopt recommendations proposed by the board’s ad hoc committee.

Staff Members Responsible:
Kristen Dobson, Executive Director, Special Projects