| Information Only |
February 1, 2000
TO: THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED
SUBJECT: REIMBURSEMENT FOR NON-ADOPTED AP AND IB TEXTBOOKS
In December 1999, I advised administrators of an opportunity, through the waiver process, to receive reimbursement for textbooks used by high school students for college credit. Since making that announcement, I received a suggestion that a similar policy change be made for textbooks used in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. I recognize that it can be difficult for school districts to encourage more students to take AP courses while trying to budget for the additional cost of the required textbooks.
The State Board of Education and the agency are addressing this issue by now including specific calls for AP and IB textbooks in many subjects. For example, Proclamation 1998, with textbooks scheduled for adoption in November 2000, includes a call for AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition. Proclamation 1999, with textbooks scheduled for adoption in November 2001, includes a call for AP textbooks in Chemistry, Physics B and C, and Environmental Science. In addition, Proclamation 1999 includes an invitation for publishers to submit textbooks in Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Systems that are appropriate for International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. Proclamation 2000, scheduled for approval by the State Board of Education in March 2000, includes a specific call for AP textbooks in U. S. History, European History, U. S. Government and Politics, Comparative Government, and Psychology. Textbooks are also expected to be adopted for IB courses in History of Africa, History of the Americas, History of East and Southeast Asia, History of Europe, Geography, and Psychology. Textbooks submitted under Proclamation 2000 are scheduled for review and adoption in 2002.
We are very optimistic that we can have state-adopted/state-purchased textbooks for all the advanced courses within the next few years. In the meantime, however, we are implementing the following policy change, effective for non-state-adopted AP and IB textbooks purchased for use beginning with school year 2000-2001:
- School districts will be eligible for reimbursement of textbook expenses only in AP and IB subjects with no state-adopted AP or IB textbooks. Reimbursement will be up to the maximum amount paid by the state for a state-adopted textbook in the subject.
- School districts must apply for a waiver of the requirements of Texas Education Code, Section 31.101, to be reimbursed under this policy. The waivers will not exceed three years. Waiver requests need not be filed for each student, course, or textbook, only for the district as a whole.
- The state will own the textbooks and the textbooks will be counted in the school district's inventory of state-purchased textbooks. The state will not accept returns of textbooks purchased under this policy. As with other textbooks, changes in student enrollment will affect the number of textbooks for which you are eligible to receive reimbursement.
- When new AP or IB textbooks are adopted by the State Board of Education for the same AP or IB subjects after you have been reimbursed by the state, your district will be eligible to receive the new state-adopted textbooks.
- School districts must submit purchasing information, such as an invoice or receipt, to the textbook administration division to receive reimbursement.
The waiver request forms can be downloaded and printed from the waivers section of the agency web page (www.tea.state.tx.us). Textbook proclamations and the textbook adoption cycle can also be viewed in the textbook section of the agency web page. For information related to reimbursement, contact Dr. Robert Leos in textbook administration. He can be reached by email at rleos@tea.state.tx.us or by telephone at (512) 463-9601.
We hope that this policy change will provide some relief for your school district as you encourage more students to enroll in higher level courses.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Nelson
Commissioner of Education
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For further information on this topic, contact contact Dr. Robert Leos in Textbook Administration at (512) 463-9601.