Public Hearing Regarding Instructional Materials Submitted for Adoption by the State Board of Education Under Proclamation 2018

November 7, 2017

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: A public hearing before the State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled for November 7, 2017, in the William B. Travis Building, Room 1-104. Testimony will be presented regarding instructional materials submitted for adoption under Proclamation 2018. This proclamation called for instructional materials covering ethnic studies including, but not limited to, African American studies, Mexican American studies, Asian American studies, and Native American studies, to be used in Special Topics in Social Studies. Products submitted in response to Proclamation 2018 were reviewed in the summer of 2017.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.110 and §31.022.

TEC, §7.110, requires the SBOE to create and implement policies that allow the public an opportunity to appear before and speak to the board.

TEC, §31.022, requires the SBOE to adopt rules to provide for a full and complete investigation of instructional materials for each subject in the foundation curriculum.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE called for instructional materials in Special Topics in Social Studies in Proclamation 2017, which was issued in April 2015 and amended in April 2016. The board did not adopt social studies materials submitted in response to that call. The board issued Proclamation 2018 calling for Special Topics in Social Studies materials covering ethnic studies including, but not limited to, African American studies, Mexican American studies, Asian American studies, and Native American studies in November 2016.

FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: None.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The Texas Administrative Code, 19 TAC Chapter 66, Subchapter B, allows both Texas and non-Texas residents to testify at public hearings on instructional materials, with priority given to Texas residents. Representatives of publishing companies are allowed to give oral responses to testimony at hearings before the SBOE.

FISCAL IMPACT: None.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The SBOE held a public hearing regarding instructional materials submitted for adoption under Proclamation 2018 at its September 2017 meeting. Public comments that were received after the September 2017 meeting will be provided to the board as a separate exhibit.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: Approval of the report from the commissioner regarding instructional materials offered for adoption under Proclamation 2018 is presented as a separate action item in this agenda.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Support Services

Kelly Callaway, Senior Director
Instructional Materials

Attachment:
Statutory Citations (PDF, 22KB)