September 2019 Committee of the Full Board Item 4
Update on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Coverage in Materials Submitted for Evaluation for the Texas Resource Review
September 11, 2019
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: The commissioner of education called for materials for courses in English language arts and reading, grades K–12, to be evaluated for the Texas Resource Review (TRR). Products submitted for the TRR were reviewed for coverage of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in the summer of 2019. This item provides an opportunity for staff to update the SBOE on the TEKS review of TRR instructional materials.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §31.081 and §31.082.
TEC, §31.081(a) requires the commissioner to develop and maintain a web portal to assist school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in selecting instructional materials.
TEC, §31.082(a) requires the commissioner to contract with a private entity to conduct an independent analysis of each 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 board received an update at the April 2019 meeting on the Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation (IMQE) Pilot.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The commissioner of education is required 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 TEKS, and a repository of open educational resources, including state-developed materials; create procedures for submitting materials to the web portal; use a competitive process to contract for the development of the portal; and contract with a private entity to conduct an independent analysis of materials submitted for review.
The goal of the TRR portal is to provide free, transparent, and user-friendly information about the extent to which materials reflect research-based pedagogy and support the learning of all students.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: School districts and charter schools will have additional information to assist with decisions regarding selection of instructional materials based on local needs.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Kelly Callaway, Senior Director, Instructional Materials
Kristen Dobson, Executive Director, Special Projects