House Bill 1605 and IMRA
House Bill (HB) 1605
During the 88th Texas Legislature (Regular Session), HB 1605 was passed, establishing an expanded process for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to approve high-quality instructional materials, adding more funding to the Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment (IMTA), prohibiting three-cueing in early literacy instruction, protecting teacher planning time, and expanding parent access to instructional materials being used in classrooms.
Learn more about HB 1605 and its impact for local educational agencies (LEAs):
IMRA
The new Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process replaces the former SBOE Proclamation and Texas Resource Review (TRR) processes. IMRA was enacted under HB 1605 and brings new components to a single, SBOE-governed review of instructional materials. It outlines how instructional materials will be reviewed, though the SBOE has final authority on approvals, the process, and the criteria used.
The IMRA process involves a variety of stakeholders, including the SBOE, trained IMRA reviewers, TEA staff, and the public. Each stakeholder has a different role in the process but all work toward the same goal of delivering a final review report on all submitted materials.
Following the review of instructional materials, the SBOE will vote to determine which materials to add to a list of approved instructional materials. Any instructional materials added to that list will be eligible for the new funding entitlements. As per HB 1605, the IMTA was restored in HB 1 to traditional levels (roughly $1B per biennium). In addition to IMTA, HB 1605 established two new Foundation School Program (FSP) entitlements for SBOE-approved instructional materials:
- SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Allotment (TEC, §31.022 and TEC, §48.307): supports the purchase of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) approved by the State Board of Education; public school systems are entitled to $40 per student per year.
- Open Education Resources Printing Allotment (TEC, §48.308): any school district that chooses Texas OER is entitled to an additional $20 per student to cover the costs of printing the textbooks.
TEA Commissioner rules related to the use of funds are tentatively slated for public comment in Fall 2024.
Visit the SBOE IMRA Webpage to learn more about the IMRA Process:
IMRA Cycle 2024
IMRA Cycle 2024 includes full-subject, tier-one instructional materials intended for classroom-wide instruction to support all students in K–5 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), Spanish Language Arts and Reading (SLAR), and K–12 mathematics. Additionally, partial-subject, tier-one instructional materials for K–3 English and Spanish phonics are also up for review.
The SBOE-approved quality IMRA rubrics for the 2024 cycle at the January/February meeting. These rubrics, which can be found on the SBOE IMRA webpage, were used by IMRA reviewers to evaluate instructional materials submissions during this IMRA cycle.
An essential part of the IMRA process allows any resident of Texas to review any of the instructional materials under consideration for approval and submit written comments, report suspected factual errors, or report suitability concerns. As such, instructional materials submitted in the IMRA process were accessible to the public on the SBOE IMRA webpage in May 2024 and the online public comment period began in May and ended in August 2024. The SBOE will hold public hearings during the September 10–13, 2024 meetings, allowing citizens opportunities to provide oral testimony about instructional materials submitted for approval.
The SBOE is scheduled to vote in November 2024 to determine which materials will be added to a list of approved instructional materials or list of rejected instructional materials.
To learn more about the current IMRA cycle, review the following documents:
- IMRA Cycle 2024 - Request for Instructional Materials Review (PDF, published February 2024)
- IMRA Cycle 2024 - Instructional Materials Under Consideration for Review (PDF, published April 2024)
- IMRA Cycle 2024 Reports (Coming Soon)
IMRA Timeline for Implementation
The timeline outlines the SBOE plans for implementation of the IMRA process. For approved instructional materials to be available for use in classrooms during the 2025–26 school year, the SBOE must meet certain milestones by November 2024. Please note that dates with an asterisk (*) are tentative and may change.
- View the SBOE IMRA Timeline document.
June 2023
SBOE held a work session discussing the background and implementation timeline associated with HB 1605. This timeline will impact when new funds will be available for school systems to use when purchasing SBOE-approved materials.
View the work session presentation.
September 2023
SBOE discussed the overall IMRA process and approach to the quality rubric design.
View the recording of the SBOE meeting.
November 2023
SBOE began the discussion of IMRA criteria process and related rules.
December 2023
SBOE will continue the discussion of IMRA criteria process and related rules.
January–February 2024
SBOE BOARD MEETING
SBOE approved quality rubrics for Cycle 2024, a suitability rubric, IMRA process, and new administrative rules.
April 2024
SBOE BOARD MEETING
SBOE continued the rulemaking process for the next batch of administrative rules that will govern the list of approved instructional materials.
The SBOE also discussed the considerations for determining the next set of quality rubrics for IMRA Cycle 2025.
May–August 2024
First set of submitted instructional materials are reviewed by teams in the IMRA process.
Instructional materials are available to the public for review and feedback on the SBOE website.
June 2024
SBOE BOARD MEETING
The SBOE held a public hearing on any and all materials under consideration.
September 2024*
SBOE BOARD MEETING
SBOE will review the reviewer reports and all public feedback. Public testimony on any and all materials under consideration will take place during the SBOE meeting.
November 2024*
SBOE BOARD MEETING
SBOE will vote and decide to place reviewed instructional materials either on the approved or rejected list or take no action.
December 2024*
IMRA reports will be available for districts to compare reviewed instructional materials.
March 2025
SBOE-approved instructional materials will be available in the EMAT system for district requisition.
July 2025
New instructional materials are shipped. Districts conduct professional development to orient teachers to the new materials.
August 2025
Districts that purchased new instructional materials will begin implementation in classrooms.
For questions regarding HB 1605, HQIM, IMRA and Texas OER, please submit a ticket to the Instructional Materials Help Desk.