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November 19, 2010 TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED: SUBJECT: District Options for Instructional MaterialsHouse Bill 4294 passed by the 81st Texas Legislature provides school districts and open-enrollment charter schools another opportunity to determine whether printed and/or electronic textbooks best serve the needs of their student populations and gives districts an opportunity to generate textbook credits. These credits can be used to purchase additional printed textbooks, electronic textbooks and technological equipment that support the use of electronic textbooks. The new legislation requires districts to requisition at least a classroom set of SBOE-adopted materials before they requisition Commissioner-adopted electronic textbooks in the Educational Materials (EMAT) system. As defined in the new 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Section 66.104(s), “A classroom set shall be defined as the total count of SBOE-adopted textbooks on the conforming or nonconforming list necessary to provide one copy to each student during the class period.” This definition includes both print textbooks and electronic textbooks adopted by the SBOE. Attached are the Commissioner of Education’s approved list of electronic textbooks and his approved list of Technology Equipment Vendors. Some of the electronic textbooks that are on the approved list contain instructional components that go beyond what was called for in Proclamation 2010. The list also includes the technology equipment approved to support the use of electronic textbooks. Flow charts displaying the sequence of actions associated with the processing of requests for SBOE-adopted and Commissioner-adopted instructional materials along with the possible use of credits are also provided. Details regarding additional options for instructional materials in School Year 2010-2011 were provided in Letters to the Administrator Addressed (TAA) dated February 19, 2010 and April 16, 2010. These letters are available online at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/stanprog021910.html and http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/stanprog041510.html. Most of the materials on the Commissioner’s List are now available for requisitioning in EMAT. In the near future, the remaining materials on the Commissioner’s List will be available upon completion of required contracts. A statewide broadcast e-mail message will be sent to all textbook coordinators via EMAT with specific requisition instructions. Districts and open-enrollment charter schools can obtain additional information for acquiring samples and contact information at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4_wide.aspx?id=2147488392. When selecting electronic textbooks and technological equipment, we recommend that districts carefully consider a number of factors and compare the options available to them. Planning among curriculum directors, technology coordinators, textbook coordinators, teachers and administrators will assist with the selection of instructional materials that best meet the needs of students, teachers and the district. A suggested list of factors to consider when choosing electronic textbooks and technological equipment is available online at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/textbooks/adoptprocess/index.html. After textbook coordinators submit their requisitions for Commissioner’s List materials in EMAT and they are approved, the Agency will allocate funds to the district for purchase of the materials. Districts are then responsible for ordering the materials from publishers and paying the publishers for the full cost of the materials. If you have additional questions, please contact Chuck Mayo, Manager of Distribution and Accessibility, by e-mail at charles.mayo@tea.state.tx.us or Deanna Marotz, Director of Textbook Distribution, by e-mail at deanna.marotz@tea.state.tx.us. Both individuals may be reached by phone at (512) 463-9601.
Sincerely,
Anita Givens Attachments: Commissioner’s List of Electronic Textbooks Commissioner’s List of Approved Technological Equipment Vendors and Equipment Commissioner's Rules Concerning the Commissioner's List of Electronic Textbooks and Instructional Materials (Effective November 21, 2010) Flow Chart- Instructional Materials Options Flow Chart- Options for Using Textbook Credits
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