Governor Abbott Releases Statement on TEA’s New Open Education Resource Instructional Materials
May 29, 2024 | Austin, TX
Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement in support of the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) new open education resource (OER) instructional materials:
”Last year, the Texas Legislature passed and I signed a law that directed the Texas Education Agency to purchase and develop instructional materials that will bring students back to the basics of education and provide the necessary fundamentals in math, reading, science, and other core subjects. The materials will also allow our students to better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution. I thank the TEA for their work to ensure our students receive a robust educational foundation to succeed so that we can build a brighter Texas for generations to come.”
These instructional materials will go through the same review process at the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) as all other instructional materials. Beginning next year, school districts will receive additional state funding if they choose to buy SBOE-approved materials. If OER is approved by SBOE, and districts opt to use the OER materials, a second stream of additional funding will be made available to defray printing costs. The OER will be available online for free to everyone, allowing parents and families to access quality educational materials aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for their children.
Governor Abbott last year signed House Bill 1605 into law, which requires TEA to provide OER for core subjects in key grades, including reading and math for Pre-K to 8th grade. This law also directed TEA to appoint an advisory board to ensure the materials are of the highest quality and compliant with suitability requirements.
The SBOE will hold public hearings at their June 25–28, 2024 meeting and their September 10–13, 2024 meeting to allow citizens opportunities to provide oral testimony about instructional materials submitted for approval.
Click here to review the materials, provide feedback, and access more information.
Click here to read a review and instructions from Grassroots America - We the People.