Committee approves local-classroom review rule and most rubrics; K–3 foundational literacy rubric returned for revision

The Committee of the Full Board approved a recommendation to adopt a new rule implementing local classroom reviews of instructional materials and advanced a slate of quality rubrics for use in those reviews — but it withheld approval of the K–3 foundational literacy rubric and sent it back for further work.

At the committee meeting the agency presented a package of procedural language and quality rubrics required by House Bill 1605. The rule on local classroom review (proposed new 19 TAC §67.69) would implement the statutory parent-initiated review process and standards for how districts should conduct and publish results of reviews of classroom‑level instructional materials.

The committee voted to recommend the rule for second reading and final adoption by the full board. Committee members then considered rubrics the agency drafted to evaluate materials during local classroom reviews and to guide reviewers at regional education-service centers. After stakeholder outreach the TEA proposed four rubrics: K–12 mathematics; K–3 foundational literacy skills; K–3 reading comprehension; and grades 4–8 reading comprehension. The committee divided the question to consider the foundational literacy rubric separately. Members rejected the K–3 foundational‑literacy rubric (0 votes in favor, 13 opposed) and approved the other three rubrics (10 in favor, 1 opposed). The agency said it will revise the K–3 foundational literacy rubric and return with a new draft.

Why it matters: House Bill 1605 (and Texas Education Code §31.0252) requires TEA to adopt a State Board–approved rubric for local reviews that districts must use when parents request a classroom-level review of instruction materials. The rubrics and the rule will govern how regional service centers and TEA staff evaluate whether classroom materials meet TEKS expectations and established rigor requirements.

Agency presentation and materials update: TEA staff (Colin) described outreach efforts that included 132 participants in stakeholder engagements and about 280 pieces of feedback on the draft rubrics. TEA also presented an update on IMRA Cycle 2025: publishers submitted materials and, after applying the prioritization protocol, TEA has 307 products scheduled for review this summer. Staff said the IMRA reviewer applicant pool grew 45% versus last year and the agency expects to field roughly 108 review teams for the cycle; TEA will post reviewer kickoff and training dates and will notify board members who are scheduled to serve.

Committee discussion and next steps: Members asked TEA to clarify how reviewers will equate out-of-state assessments when TEA uses those data to judge eligibility under the school accountability framework, how grant funds for regional service centers will be distributed to support local reviews, and how conflict-of-interest concerns would be managed when service centers have private arms that sell curriculum or vendor services. Several members asked TEA to produce clearer instructions about the parent portal and data privacy protections, to show the prioritization protocol TEA used to select products for the required review list, and to provide a plain-language flowchart and calendar so districts and publishers can follow the process.

Formal action: The committee passed a motion recommending the full board approve the new rule for second reading and final adoption; that motion carried unanimously by hand vote (12–0). The committee then recommended that the full board approve the rubrics package with the K–3 foundational-lIteracy rubric held out for revision (the committee divided the question; the foundational rubric failed 0–13; the remaining rubrics were approved 10–1). TEA said it will revise the K–3 foundational literacy rubric based on feedback (including a specific concern raised by members that the draft did not explicitly forbid the practice known as "three-cuing"), and will return to the committee with updated language before the full board’s final vote.

Ending: TEA will publish stakeholder-scheduling links and revised rubrics for additional comment and will present final drafts to the board at upcoming meetings. IMRA Cycle 2025 reviews will begin after reviewer training dates in mid‑May, and final reports will return to the board in September for decisions on product approvals in the November meeting.