DECISION MAKING

The structure of the Instructional Materials Allotment requires districts to plan strategically and systemically before they decide how to use the funds. District leaders need to recognize that they have new options and opportunities that they did not have prior to the passage of SB 6. Before SB 6, the district could only choose from a list of textbooks or electronic materials that had been approved by the SBOE or the commissioner. The district then requisitioned the materials from TEA. These materials would then be delivered to the district but were the property of the state.

Over time, many teachers have used the textbook as one resource of many, so they have gravitated to using only a classroom-set of materials. Sometimes, the state-provided book is not even used by the teacher for instruction at all. This has resulted in wasting valuable resources with state purchased textbooks being warehoused and not used. The IMA allows districts much more flexibility in not only what is purchased but in what quantity and using a delivery system that best meets their specific needs.

Here are some documents that will help you in this process:

• IMA Decision Making Process
• IMA Online Resource Rubric

The following are documents that might provide additional insight into relevant research and planning done at the state and national level. 

• TASA’s Creating A New Vision for Public Education
• Partnership for 21st Century Skills
• Texas’ Long Range Plan for Technology
• National Education Technology Plan: Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology
• Innovate to Educate: System [Re]Design for Personalized Learning

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Questions regarding Advocacy:
Jennifer Bergland
512 450 5448

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