In Texas, curriculum standards for public schools are supervised by the State Board of Education, an independent elected entity. From time to time, the SBOE will review these standards to ensure their continued compatibility and compliance with the values of Texans.
The SBOE recently opened a public comment period as part of its current review of standards in English, mathematics, and Spanish.
According to an SBOE press release, the comment period opened in May and runs through Friday, August 16.
“The IMRA [Instructional Materials Review and Approval] process is a critical component in ensuring that educational resources meet the highest standards for Texas kids and are a reflection of Texas values,” said SBOE Chairman, Aaron Kinsey. “We invite parents, educators, and community members to participate in the review process, as their feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of education in our state.”
During the first IMRA cycle, 25 publishers submitted 142 products for review. These materials include full-subject, comprehensive instructional materials intended for classroom-wide instruction to support all students in K–5 Reading & Language Arts as well as K–12 Mathematics. Additionally, partial-subject instructional materials for K–3 Phonics are also up for public review.
All materials are being reviewed by independent teams of professional reviewers – teachers, parents, and other curriculum experts – based on how well they support on-grade-level instruction of the SBOE’s curriculum standards, and they are also being evaluated based on rubrics the SBOE has developed to analyze instructional material quality and suitability.
In addition to these professional reviews, the SBOE welcomes review and feedback from all members of the public. Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments, report suspected factual errors, and share any suitability concerns.
The materials in question are subject to review for both basic factual errors and general compatibility.
Texans can view the English standards here, the mathematics standards here, and the Spanish standards here.
Once they have reviewed the materials, Texans who wish to do so may submit a public comment here. In addition, Texans can contact their representative on the State Board of Education.
The SBOE will also discuss these materials during their next meeting which is scheduled for September 10-13, in Austin. Texans may testify in person, at this time, if they wish to do so.
