The Texas Education Code 31.002 defines Instructional Materials (IM) as content that conveys the essential knowledge and skills of a subject in the public-school curriculum encompasses lesson plans, assessments, and various materials used by teachers, principals, instructional leaders to support students learning.

House Bill (HB) 1605 has initiated a change in instructional materials terminology, emphasizing the importance of clear definitions to enhance student academic outcomes. An understanding of the three distinct categories of instructional materials is crucial.

• Full-Subject, Tier-One IM provides full coverage of state standards without need for supplementation, including comprehensive resources for both students and teachers.
• Partial-Subject, Tier-One IM covers a portion of essential knowledge and skills required by the state, also without supplementation.
• Supplemental assists in the instruction of specific essential knowledge and skills for required curriculum.

High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) aligned with academic standards, offering clear learning outcomes, evidence-based practices, and full support for both teachers and students. To be considered HQIM in the state of Texas, the instructional materials must:

• Ensure full coverage of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
• Align to the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and prekindergarten guidelines.
• Provide evidence-based best practices in the relevant content areas of reading language arts (RLA), math, science, and social studies.
• Support all learners, including students with disabilities, Emergent Bilinguals (EB), and students identified as gifted and talented.
• Meet grade-level suitability requirements.
• Be free from factual error.
• Enable frequent progress monitoring through embedded and aligned assessments.
• Provide teacher and student-facing lesson materials with implementation supports. 
• Follow Manufacturing Standards and Specifications for Textbooks (MSST) for physical and electronic materials.
• Receive approval from the SBOE through the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process.

HQIM provides teachers with resources that ensure all students access rigorous, grade-level content. Review all the criteria HQIM must meet in each grade level and content area in the IMRA Quality and Suitability Rubrics.

SBOE-approved instructional materials must pass through the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process, ensuring they meet rigorous standards and qualify for state funding entitlements outlined under Section 48.307.

Open Education Resources (OER) reside in the public domain or are released under an intellectual property license allowing free use, reuse, modification, and sharing with others.

State-Developed OER Instructional Materials are classified as state-developed OER, which can qualify for SBOE approval and corresponding entitlements.

Locally Adopted Instructional Materials are the materials that have been chosen and implemented in schools by a local educational agency. Locally adopted instructional materials may or may not be approved by the SBOE or considered HQIM.

ESC Region 6 is positioned to assist districts in understanding and implementing HQIM, while supporting whichever choices districts make regarding instructional materials. This collaborative approach aims to enhance educational outcomes for all students within the Texas public school system.

Research-Based Instructional Strategies (RBIS)

​​​​​​​Provides educators with the essential knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based teaching practices effectively in their classrooms. By familiarizing themselves with RBIS, educators can better customize the learning experience to meet the diverse needs of every student.

As part of a comprehensive plan to increase access to High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) for students in Texas, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has created a set of RBIS that emphasize the critical instructional shifts needed for delivering high-quality and challenging lessons.

RBIS can be characterized as: -

• A compilation of research-backed practices that clarify prevalent misconceptions in the field of education.
• Subjects that necessitate changes in conceptual or philosophical approaches to teaching.
• A collection of practices grounded in research that should be adopted in classrooms, regardless of the instructional materials employed.
• An understanding of how students optimize their learning in math and reading within K-12 education.

Additionally, RBIS highlights the significance of HQIM and outlines the requirements for their successful implementation. RBIS workshops focus on best practices in Reading, Language Arts (RLA), and Math, offering specific strategies supported by research. These strategies should be applied in all classrooms, regardless of the instructional resources used.

Bluebonnet Learning, created by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), offers instructional materials rooted in evidence-based research to enhance teaching effectiveness and improve student comprehension. Fully compliant with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), these resources provide educators with engaging tools to promote student achievement at all grade levels. Recently, the State Board of Education (SBOE) endorsed TEA's request for Texas-produced textbooks, Bluebonnet Learning, as the official curriculum for public schools.  Explore how Bluebonnet Learning’s state-developed instructional materials can transform the teaching and learning experience in your school.

Strong Foundations (SF) and LASO

TEA Strong Foundations is a grant program that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can apply for to assist with the preparation and implementation of high-quality instructional materials. Currently, support is being provided in the following content areas: SLAR and RLA K-5, K-5 Math, and 6-12 Math.

LASO

The Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) strategically batches grant funding opportunities that support continued learning acceleration and innovation opportunities. The LASO program grants are anchored in: Strategic Planning, Instructional Materials (HQIM), Teacher Pipelines, More Time, and Innovative School Models.

Two of the decisions available through the LASO 1, LASO 2, and LASO 3 grants are Strong Foundations Planning and Strong Foundations Implementation.

• Strong Foundations Planning requires writing an instructional framework for either Math or Literacy. RBIS training is a major component of that work and frameworks are aligned to the RBIS. Using the OER products is not required to participate in the planning grant.
• Strong Foundations Implementation provides training and coaching support for districts already implementing the OER products.

NOTE: Campuses identified as School Improvement will be encouraged to apply for the Strong Foundations Implementation SI PLC Supports Grant through LASO 3.

LASO 3 Strong Foundations Grant Information and Timeline

• General Webinar | October 1, 2024 and October 3, 2024

• Application Window | October 14, 2024 - December 13, 2024

• Program Webinar Window | October 17, 2024 - October 25, 2024

• Tentative Award Announcement | February 20, 2025

• eGrants Application | February 20, 2025 - March 24, 2025

• Notice of Grant Award | March 24, 2025 - May 24, 2025

TCMPC

An online curriculum management system that aligns with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The TEKS Resource System is developed based on contemporary research-based practices to offer a foundation of aligned curriculum for the four main subject areas in grades K-12. Components include Vertical Alignment Documents (VAD), TEKS Clarification Documents (TCD), Year at a Glance (YAG), Instructional Focus Document (IFD), Assessment Center, subject-specific resources, and more! We will assist your educators with TEKS Resource System training, provide professional development opportunities, and offer technical support. Pricing is tiered based on Average Daily Attendance (calculated in the summer).

Highlights:

• Is a technology updated comprehensive online curriculum and assessment management system
• Is developed BY Texas educators FOR Texas educators
• Supports Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts (K-12 English; K-5 Spanish)
• Is aligned to current Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (including new Science TEKS)
• Is responsive to changes from TEA and end-user feedback
• Is a synthesis of current research-based practices
• Contracts with classroom teachers, curriculum experts, and ESC specialists who assist in development, review, and revision of the system components​​​​​​​  

TEKS Resource System 

​​​​​​​

• ​​​​​​​Over 90% of Texas districts are TEKS Resource System Users •
• Approximately 2.2 million students are enrolled in districts subscribing to TEKS Resource System
• Management Committee includes statewide representation of 10 Executive Directors and 10 Superintendents
• Developed by full-time state content development team members and over 100 contracted Texas educators  ​​​​​​​

Texas Curriculum Resources (TCR)

​​​​​​​Curriculum documents aimed at assisting Texas educators in making use of Open Education Resources (previously referred to as Eureka, Carnegie, and Amplify). These documents feature the Vertical Alignment Document and the Instructional Focus Document.

The TCR initiative is currently being developed by the Texas Curriculum Management Program Cooperative (TCMPC) State Team. The TCR materials are crafted to enhance teachers' content knowledge and aid in planning for OER Math from Kindergarten to High School and ELAR and SLAR from Kindergarten to 5th grade. With the introduction of the new platform, users of TEKS RS and TCR can create interactive calendars on a yearly, monthly, and weekly basis to help them stay organized.

TCR is aligned with the TCMPC to ensure that state standards are met. The TCMPC, which was formerly known as the TEKS Resource System, provides teachers with a framework for resources pertaining to curriculum and assessment that corresponds with state standards. A team of experts in curriculum, assessment, and technology, alongside ESC content specialists, district leaders, and Texas educators, collaborate to deliver and maintain current, TEKS-aligned resources that reflect the constantly changing state priorities.

Both TCR and TCMPC can be utilized via a single platform called Campfire Learning. Districts can select which resource to implement based on the grade level and content area, but access must be granted by the ESC to ensure proper activation of accounts. To implement TCMPC and TCR at your campus or district, please contact us for further information and support.

ITRS+

​​​​​​​The TEKS Resource System (TEKS R/S) curriculum management system provides curriculum to numerous districts throughout Texas and is supported by all 20 Education Service Centers across the state. TEKS R/S is an online curriculum for the four core academic subjects (science, mathematics, social studies, and English language arts & reading) which includes a scope and sequence, unit maps, clarifications for TEKS Student Expectations, a lesson planner, administrator walk-through tool, content-specific resources, vertical alignment documents, and an assessment item bank. See ITRS+ Website for more information.

Some statistics:

• 10 ESC executive directors and 10 superintendents on the management committee 
• 83% of districts in Texas use TEKS R/S
• 980 member districts across the state
• 4,539 campuses use TEKS R/S 
• Approximately 1.9 million students

TExGUIDE

​​​​​​​Provided by Region 13 supports teachers with a bridge between curriculum, aligned resources, and instructional planning. This increases the efficiency and quality of lesson planning for teachers, directly impacting student learning outcomes

Learn more about our TExGUIDE PK-12 and TExGUIDE Pre-K products using the tabs above.

Take a tour of TExGUIDE here.

 TExGUIDE Pre-K Flyer             TExGUIDE PK-12 Flyer

TexQuest

A premium digital resources for K-12 students in Texas public and open-enrollment charter schools, and is provided with shared funding from the state legislature, via the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC).

*What is included in TexQuest? •

• Magazine, newspaper, encyclopedia, academic journal, and reference book articles with citations – easily searched and shared
• Full text eBooks and magazines with simultaneous access
• Copyright safe images, videos, and audio files
• Rich primary sources materials to support TEKS and new SAT
• Features like text-to-speech, translate, TEK and lexile search

Where is information on how to use TexQuest?

Education Service Center, Region 20, TexQuest’s educational partner, coordinates TexQuest training and support activities. Training calendars, webinars, and product information can be found at TexQuest.net.

Which districts are participating?

Over 95% of eligible students now have access to TexQuest. Contact the TexQuest Support Center at texquest@esc20.info for information.

What is the cost?

Because TexQuest is supported by the Texas State Legislature, districts will be assessed an annual participation fee per pupil, based on October enrollment data provided by TEA. TexQuest participation is only available at the district level.