McAllen ISD board approves Savvas and McGraw Hill for math adoption; teachers cast 514 ballots

The McAllen Independent School District board on Monday unanimously approved recommended publishers for the district's K–12 math instructional materials, endorsing Savvas for K–8 and secondary algebra courses and McGraw Hill for precalculus.

District staff described a multi-stage review: a district-led committee narrowed State Board of Education–approved publishers to a top set, teacher-led committees reduced that list to three per subject, publisher presentations and campus samples were made available, and teachers then voted during a two-week window. "We had 514 responses for all of our subjects," said Angela Allen, director of student operations, summarizing teacher participation. Based on committee rubrics and teacher input, administration recommended Savvas for K–8, algebra 1, algebra 2 and geometry, and McGraw Hill for precalculus.

Content coordinators and staff highlighted alignment to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and English Learner Proficiency Standards (ELPS), formative and summative assessment options, online parent portals, and differentiation resources for tiered instruction. The elementary math content coordinator said Savvas received 100% on the state rubric categories and that the platform integrates with the district's I-Ready diagnostic, allowing prescribed activities based on diagnostic results.

Trustees asked about rigor and supports for struggling students and were told the publisher offers differentiation libraries and both hands-on and virtual manipulatives. Administration recommended a typical adoption term of four years (districts may choose 1–4 years or longer); staff said math content is next reviewed in a four-year cycle.

Trustee motion to approve the recommended publishers carried 6–0.

Next procedural steps include final contract work and vendor implementation planning; training and campus rollouts were discussed as part of the presentation.