State Board of Education Approved Instructional Materials Entitlements and the new List of Approved Instructional Materials

Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Background

The Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process was enacted under House Bill (HB) 1605, 88th Regular Session, and brings new components to a single State Board of Education (SBOE)-governed review of instructional materials. IMRA outlines how instructional materials will be reviewed, with the SBOE having final authority on the process, criteria used, and approvals.

Instructional materials submitted in the IMRA process are reviewed for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) alignment, factual errors, suitability, quality, physical/electronic specifications and parent portal compliance. Instructional materials are also open to public review and feedback.

Following the review of instructional materials, the SBOE votes to determine which materials to add to a list of approved instructional materials. Any instructional materials added to that list will be considered high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and are eligible for new funding entitlements.

Use the links to jump to the relevant sections of the TAA:

• Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024
• Bluebonnet Learning Instructional Materials
• Instructional Materials Funding and New Entitlements
• Open Education Resource Transition Plan 

Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024

The first reviews conducted under the process this year evaluated tier-one, full-subject English and Spanish language arts and reading products for grades K–5 (including tier-one, partial-subject phonics products in grades K–3) and tier-one, full-subject mathematics products for grades K–12.  

The SBOE voted in November 2024 to add materials to lists of approved and rejected instructional materials. The instructional materials added to the approved list are eligible for the new funding entitlements outlined in HB 1605. For school systems, this means access to an additional $540 million in instructional materials formula funding on top of the funds already allocated via the Instructional Materials & Technology Allotment (IMTA). 

The lists of approved and rejected materials, along with associated reports and pre-approval instructional materials access, are available on the SBOE IMRA webpage. Additionally, TEA has launched a new IMRA website to assist school districts in locating and selecting instructional materials. This website replaces the former Texas Resource Review website. Resources available on the new IMRA website include:

• Comprehensive quality reports for all instructional materials reviewed in IMRA 2024 
• Agency recommendations for approval and rejection 
• SBOE determination 
• Detailed information regarding the technology required to use each instructional material 
• Pricing information 
• Optional professional development offered by publishers

Bluebonnet Learning Instructional Materials

Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials are state-developed instructional materials that provide teachers with the tools to foster student success. Developed using the latest cognitive science, Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials cover 100% of TEKS and provide a full suite of resources, including scope and sequence, daily lesson plans, and student materials. All Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials are designed to be high-quality, suitable, and grade-level appropriate.

Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials were added to the list of approved instructional materials for IMRA Cycle 2024 by the SBOE.

All Bluebonnet Learning materials are created with the intention of printing instructional materials for classroom use. As an open education resource, educators, campuses, and/or any individual can access all Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials digitally for free.

Spanish language versions of Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials will be available for piloting in school year 2025-26. They will also be submitted for IMRA Cycle 2025 for review by the SBOE.

Printed copies of Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials, if approved by the SBOE, will be available for school systems to procure in the EMAT system.

Print Pricing

Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials are available in print through approved vendors. Explore print pricing for all Bluebonnet Learning program print packages available through Regional Education Service Center 4, an authorized printing vendor.

• View the Pricing List

Help and Support

For more information, please submit a Help Desk ticket.

Instructional Materials Funding and New Entitlements

The 2023‒2024 and 2024-2025 SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Entitlement and State-Developed Open Education Resource (OER) Entitlement for each district and open-enrollment charter school (local educational agency or LEA) will be available on the instructional materials website and are expected to be populated in EMAT, the state’s online ordering system, in December 2024.

Per Student SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Entitlement Amount: $40.00 

Per Student State-Developed OER Entitlement Amount:  $20.00

Although the amounts will appear soon in EMAT, the actual funds will not be usable until SBOE-Approved products from the Instructional Material Review and Approval (IMRA) Cycle 2024 have been made available to order through requisition within EMAT.

HB 1605 established two new Foundation School Program (FSP) entitlements for SBOE-approved instructional materials. The SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Entitlement (Texas Education Code (TEC), §48.307) is an annual entitlement that can be applied to all instructional materials that have been placed on the approved list by the SBOE. Any unused SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Entitlement funds can be carried over each fiscal year. This means that school districts should expect to find SBOE-Approved Instructional Material Entitlement Funds from the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years within their EMAT account.

The State-Developed OER Entitlement (TEC, §48.308) is an annual entitlement that can be applied to Bluebonnet Learning materials that have been placed on the approved list by the SBOE. The State-Developed OER Entitlement does not carry over each fiscal year. This means that school districts should expect to find State-Developed OER Entitlement Funds from the 2024-2025 fiscal year within their EMAT account. Please share this information with all those responsible for fiscal accountability in your LEA. 

Please note that these entitlements are not part of the Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment (IMTA). The IMTA is not part of this per-student allocation amount. More details on the next set of biennium funds provided by the IMTA will follow in a future TAA.

For an overview of instructional materials funding, including a summary of these new entitlements, view the Instructional Materials Funding Webinar.

If you have any questions, please contact the Instructional Materials team by submitting an Instructional Materials Help Desk Ticket.

Open Education Resource Transition Plan

To qualify for the per student state-developed OER entitlement outlined in TEC, §48.308, the board of trustees of a school district must adopt an open education resource instructional material transition plan to assist classroom teachers in the district who will be using an open education resource instructional material in a specific subject or grade level for which the teacher has not previously used an open education resource instructional material, per TEC, §31.0751.

A school district or an open-enrollment charter school is required to submit an OER instructional material transition plan only when first adopting a State Board of Education (SBOE)-approved OER product for a grade level or subject/course or expanding implementation of an SBOE-approved OER product to additional campuses and/or grade levels.

Proposed commissioner of education rule 19 TAC §67.1315 provides clarification on the requirements for a school district's OER transition plan, including when a plan must be submitted and what it must contain.

Until the above-referenced rule is adopted, all plans should ensure:

• timely communication with all stakeholders,  
• operational and logistics considerations such as procurement and distribution of print materials,  
• development of aligned master schedules, including protected planning and instructional time,  
• clear expectations for implementation and internalization, 
• stakeholder communication if materials have been modified, 
• the maintenance of instructional flexibility as required by TEC §28.0027, and  
• initial and ongoing professional learning for teachers using the materials.  

A webinar will be posted no later than Wednesday, January 15, 2025, outlining guidance for districts on the plan and supports available to districts.

If you have any questions, please contact the Instructional Materials team by submitting an Instructional Materials Help Desk Ticket.