Chapter 66. State Adoption and Distribution of Instructional Materials
Subchapter D. Special Instructional Materials

§66.121. Special Instructional Materials.

(a)  All laws and rules applying to instructional materials provided to sighted pupils that are not in conflict with the Texas Education Code, §31.028, or this section shall apply to the distribution and control of braille and large type instructional materials, including, but not limited to, the following.

(1)  A requisition for special instructional materials shall be based on actual student enrollment to meet individual student need.

(2)  Each school district or open-enrollment charter school shall conduct an annual physical inventory of all currently adopted instructional materials that have been requisitioned by, and delivered to, the district. The results of the inventory shall be recorded in the district's files.

(b)  Reimbursement and/or replacement shall be made for all volumes of braille and large type instructional materials determined to be lost.

(c)  Publishers shall grant permission to the state to have adopted instructional materials transcribed into braille, large type, and audiotape without penalty or royalty.

(d)  On or before the deadline specified in the schedule of adoption procedures, each publisher of newly adopted instructional materials shall provide computerized files as specified in the proclamation to be used for producing braille or other versions of materials to be used by students with disabilities. All information contained in adopted instructional materials shall be included on the computerized files. Computerized files may be copied and distributed to a school district, upon request, for instructional use with a student with disabilities who requires the use of computerized instructional materials, pursuant to an individualized plan developed for the student under the Rehabilitation Act, §504; the Americans with Disabilities Act; or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(e)  The state shall make suitable student instructional materials available in large type. The commissioner of education shall develop specifications for large type instructional materials and notify publishers of student instructional materials suitable for production in large type. The publisher may elect to supply the large type materials, or the commissioner of education may enter into contracts for producing large type materials.

(f)  Gifts of instructional materials for educating students who are blind or visually impaired tendered by individuals, groups, or school district officials may be accepted by the State Board of Education and shall become state property and subject to the same regulations as similar items purchased with state funds. Gift materials may be shipped by Free Matter for the Blind and Visually Handicapped to the Special Textbook Redistribution Center or other location designated by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

(g)  Copies of adopted instructional materials in braille and large type needed by a person who is blind or visually impaired to carry out the duties of a teacher in the public schools of this state shall be furnished without cost. The materials are to be loaned to the public school districts as long as needed and are to be returned to the state when they are no longer needed. Materials in the medium needed by the teacher may be requisitioned by a textbook coordinator after the superintendent of schools has certified to the commissioner of education:

(1)  the name of the teacher;

(2)  the grade or subject taught; and

(3)  the fact of the teacher's visual impairment.

(h)  Large type instructional materials shall meet or exceed the specifications in §66.7 of this title (relating to Manufacturing Standards and Specifications) and any additional specifications that may be prescribed.

(i)  Copies of adopted instructional materials in braille, large type, or in an electronic file that are requested by a parent who is blind or visually impaired shall be furnished without cost by the state. Materials in the medium needed by the parent may be requisitioned by a textbook coordinator. Requests for electronic files will be filled by the TEA after the parent signs and the TEA receives a statement, through the appropriate school district, promising that the parent will safeguard the security of the files and observe all current copyright laws including those that forbid reproduction of the files and their transfer to other parties. All braille and large type textbooks and electronic files with educational content that have been provided to parents who are blind or visually impaired must be returned to the local school district at the end of the school year for reuse.

Source: The provisions of this §66.121 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 7236; amended to be effective October 12, 2006, 31 TexReg 8360; amended to be effective February 22, 2010, 35 TexReg 1454.

§66.124. Authorizing State Funds.

Money from the state textbook fund may be used to purchase braille and large type state-adopted instructional materials listed in the General Catalog of Braille and Large Type Publications issued by the American Printing House for the Blind and supplements and/or revisions of this publication.

Source: The provisions of this §66.124 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 7236.

Last updated: February 23, 2010

For additional information, email rules@tea.state.tx.us.