Report from the Commissioner of Education Regarding Instructional Materials Offered for Adoption under Proclamation 2019

November 16, 2018

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt materials submitted for review in response to Proclamation 2019. The board issued Proclamation 2019 in April 2017, calling for materials in English language arts and reading, kindergarten–grade 8; Spanish language arts and reading, Kindergarten–Grade 6; English Learners Language Arts, Grades 7 and 8; handwriting (English and Spanish), Kindergarten–Grade 5; spelling (English and Spanish), Grades 1–6; and Personal Financial Literacy. Products submitted in response to Proclamation 2019 were reviewed in the summer of 2018. This item presents the final report from the commissioner of education regarding the coverage of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), alleged factual errors, and information regarding whether a publisher on the list has previously refused to rebid instructional materials.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§31.023 and 31.024

TEC, §31.023, requires the SBOE to adopt a list of instructional materials that meet applicable physical specifications and contain material covering at least half of the applicable TEKS in the student version and in the teacher version.

TEC §31.024, requires the SBOE to make decisions to place material on the adopted list or reject material by majority vote and to provide a list of adopted materials no later than December 1 of the year prior to the year the materials are expected to be in classrooms.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: Proclamation 2019 was issued by the SBOE in April 2017. Amendments to Proclamation 2019 were approved at the April 2018 SBOE meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The board issued Proclamation 2019 at its April 2017 meeting. The review of Proclamation 2019 instructional materials concluded in July 2018.

FISCAL IMPACT: None.

GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: None.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: A public hearing was held on September 11, 2018.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Require that all publishers make corrections listed in the Report of Required Corrections of Factual Errors and the Proclamation 2019 Editorial Changes;

Require that all instructional materials meet established manufacturing standards and specifications;

Approve changes and corrections submitted in response to written comments and public testimony; and

Place instructional materials submitted for adoption on the adopted list as indicated on the List of Instructional Materials Eligible for Adoption Under Proclamation 2019.

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

Kelly Callaway, Senior Director
Instructional Materials

Attachment I:  Statutory Citations

Attachment II: List of Instructional Materials Eligible for Adoption Under Proclamation 2019

Separate Exhibits:  Report of Required Corrections of Factual Errors Proclamation 2019 Public-Reported Errors and Comments