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Textbook Adoption

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION (SBOE): OVERVIEW

The review and adoption process  determine the instructional materials eligible for adoption by the State Board of Education (SBOE). The process starts when the SBOE revises or adopts new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and is complete with the selection and implementation of new materials by school districts.

The SBOE creates an adoption cycle for subjects in the foundation curriculum (English and Spanish language arts and reading, math, science, social studies) to ensure materials in those subjects are reviewed once every eight years. Review of materials for the enrichment curriculum may occur less often. Enrichment subjects are languages other than English, health, physical education, fine arts, career and technology education, technology applications, religious literature, and personal financial literacy.

SBOE: PROCLAMATIONS

The SBOE uses a proclamation to call for new instructional materials or new information about currently adopted instructional materials. The proclamation lists the subject areas scheduled for review. It contains a schedule of adoption procedures, requirements of publisher participation, links to the required TEKS and English Language Proficiency (ELPS), and instructions for providing electronic files for braille and large-print materials. Proclamations are named for the year the materials go into the classroom.

SBOE: INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTION

After considering the evaluations of the state review panel members and TEA staff recommendations, the Commissioner of Education recommends that the instructional materials be placed on the adopted or rejected list, based on the number of TEKS covered. To be eligible for adoption, instructional materials must meet at least 50% of the elements of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the subject and grade level for which the materials are intended in both the student version and the teacher version of the instructional materials.

Instructional materials must cover at least 50% of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the subject and grade level or course in materials intended for student use and materials intended for teacher use. In determining the percentage of the TEKS covered by instructional materials, each student expectation counts as an independent element of the TEKS (TAC §66.66(b)(1)). Instructional materials must cover the TEKS for the subject area and grade level or course for which the materials are intended as specified in TAC §66.27(h).

Instructional materials must cover 100% of the required English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) in the materials intended for student use and the materials intended for teacher use.

Instructional materials must be free from factual errors at the time they are delivered to schools (TAC §66.66(b)(3)).

Printed materials intended for use by the student must comply with the standards in the latest edition of Manufacturing Standards and Specifications for Textbooks, approved by the Advisory Commission on Textbook Specifications (TAC §66.66(b)(2)).

SBOE: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The TEA contracts for the development of braille, large type and recorded versions of adopted instructional materials. To facilitate the timely delivery of print instructional materials in accessible formats, publishers submit digital files that conform to the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) to a designated braille producer following the adoption. After all required corrections and editorial changes have been made to both the print version and the digital files; publishers must also submit updated digital files to the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). Publishers of state adopted electronic instructional materials are also encouraged to comply with the technical standards of the Federal Rehabilitation Act, Section 508.