Instructional Materials Funding

In addition to Currently Adopted Instructional Materials adopted by the State Board of Education under TEC, §31.024, IMTA funds also can be used to purchase: 

• Non-adopted instructional materials
• Consumable instructional materials, including workbooks, student kits, and magazines 
• Versions of non-adopted instructional materials that are fully accessible to students with disabilities, including large-print, braille, and audio materials 
• Bilingual materials as provided by TEC, §31.029, including Spanish-to-English dictionaries and flash cards 
• Instructional materials for use in college preparatory courses, including dual-credit textbooks and dual-credit online courses, as provided by TECs, §28.014 and §31.031 
• Supplemental instructional materials, including band instruments
• State-developed, open-source instructional materials (including Bluebonnet Learning), as provided by TEC, Chapter 31, Subchapter B-1

IMTA funds can be used for services that assist the technology or instructional materials used in the classroom, including: 

• Activities related to the local review and adoption of instructional materials, such as a contracted service to determine instructional materials Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) coverage 
• Training educational personnel directly involved in student learning in the appropriate use of instructional materials, including IMCAT registration or instructional materials trainings offered by publishers/vendors, and training for online testing.
• Providing access to technological equipment for instructional use, including wi-fi, online workspace tools, screen recording applications, single sign-on services, and internet connectivity
• Inventory software or systems for storing, managing, and accessing instructional materials (e.g., learning management systems, internet filtering, etc.) 
• Software or the portion of a system that analyzes the use and effectiveness of instructional materials 
• The salary and other expenses of an employee who provides technical support for the use of technological equipment directly involved in student learning (e.g., instructional technology trainer, computer/laptop technician)
• Printing services, printer paper, and ink/toner for copies of instructional materials (e.g., digital licenses that permit printing, black line masters) for teachers and students
• Software or systems that analyze the suitability of instructional materials, including library materials utilized as instructional materials, used in instruction of the TEKS.

IMTA funds can be used for technological equipment that contributes to student learning or supports the use of instructional materials, including: 

• Laptops 
• Headphones 
• Desktops 
• Calculators 
• Charging carts 
• Protective cases for tablets   

Examples of allowable salary disbursement requests include: 

• An employee who provides technical support for a learning management system (LMS) used to access instructional materials
• An employee who provides support through planning and professional development for teachers and staff to integrate technology into classroom instruction
• A computer lab technician who directly assists students
• An employee who performs maintenance and provides technical support for technological equipment used in labs and classrooms 

To use IMTA funds for the salary or appropriate portion of the salary of an employee that meets criteria, local school systems must submit a disbursement request through EMAT and indicate the pay period on each submission. Salary disbursements are provided as reimbursements to the district’s payroll account; TEA cannot approve salary requests for future dates.

It is recommended to submit salary reimbursement requests in quarterly cadence, in alignment with a school system's payroll schedule. As an example, for a traditional 10-month employee salary reimbursement, a school system would submit three disbursement requests in EMAT throughout the year: 

• The first disbursement request would be submitted after November 30 for reimbursement of salary payments in September, October, and November.
• The second disbursement request would be submitted after February 28 for reimbursement of salary payments in December, January, and February.
• The third disbursement request would be submitted after May 31 or end-of-contract date for reimbursement of salary payments from the remaining contract months.

IMTA funds cannot be used for the following materials and services: 

• General professional development 
• Programs for non-instructional purposes, such as scheduling 
• Online gradebooks 
• Book covers 
• Physical conduits that transmit data, such as cabling and wiring or electricity 
• Equipment used for moving or storing instructional materials (e.g., forklifts, pallets, pallet jacks, shrink wrap) 
• Office and school supplies (e.g., pens, paper clips, desks, batteries, etc.) 
• Items not directly related to student instruction, such as furniture, athletic equipment, extension cords, temporary contractors, or video surveillance equipment (e.g., chairs, basketballs, bleachers, surge protectors) 
• Services for installation of equipment or hardwiring 
• Travel expenses, including lodging, mileage, flights, or meals 
• Salaries for teachers, testing coordinators, or instructional materials coordinators