Instructional Materials Newsletter

Updates and News Regarding Proclamations, etc

January Updates - PreK Edition

Welcome to the January edition of the ESC 15 Instructional Materials Newsletter. Please contact Traci Terrill if you have questions regarding adoptions, proclamations, etc.

There are many updates within this edition, please let me know how I can best assist you with your textbook questions.

You may also want to join the To the Administrator Addressed listserv with TEA to receive updates on Instructional Materials. Go to TEA and click on Sign Up For Updates.

Cancelled - Feb. 25 Proclamation 2021 Textbook Showcase

ESC 15 has cancelled the February 25, PreK Proclamation 2021 Showcase. I am very sorry for any inconvenience this causes. We are still committed to assisting you in selecting a PreK curriculum for next school year, but those efforts will look a little different this year. Please continue reading for more information.

Prekindergarten Adoption Support Conference, including Virtual Publisher Fair - January 12-13

TEA will host a two-day, virtual Prekindergarten Adoption Support Conference and publisher fair January 12-13, 2021 from 9:00am to 4:00pm to support LEAs with the PreK materials selection process. Register for the conference here.

The Conference includes the following coaching and support for districts:

Guidance on how to set-up a strong adoption process to explore available PreK products that culminates in a final adoption decision in alignment with local needs
Best practices to build teacher and school leader buy-in on final adoption decision
Guidance to define quality materials and resources, created by teachers, to review and evaluate materials based on quality
Explore how the TPGs are addressed in different instructional materials
Learn from other LEAs who have led successful selection processes in other subject areas by using available resources from TEA
Direct access to publishers to ask questions about products based on detailed quality reviews provided by teachers

ESC 15 Publisher Zoom Sessions for PreK

Despite not being able to meet publishers in person, we will still have a way for you to connect with PreK publishers. I am working on a schedule of zoom sessions with the publishers. Sessions would start around 3 pm, in hopes that teachers will not need subs and participate in their classroom or location of choice. Session will be around an hour in length.

PreK Materials Preview Days February 24-26

If you were unable to attend the PreK preview days this summer, districts will be able to preview materials February 24-26 at the ESC Conference Center. Please use this form to secure your spot. Publishers will not be attending these preview days. ESC 15 is monitoring the number of participants each day, and will require participants to wear masks and social distance.

Prekindergarten Pricing Information Now Available

The Proclamation 2021 webpage has been updated with pricing information submitted by publishers with prekindergarten materials adopted by the SBOE. This information is updated as bids are finalized and approved. The deadline for participating publishers to submit bids was Monday, December 14, 2020.

List of Prekindergarten Materials Adopted by the State Board of Education

The Proclamation 2021 webpage has been updated with the list of English and Spanish prekindergarten instructional materials adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE).

New Quality Reviews Available for Prekindergarten and Mathematics

The Texas Resource Review website has been updated with quality reports for SBOE-adopted and non-adopted English prekindergarten systems and mathematics. The quality reports for SBOE-adopted Spanish prekindergarten systems will be available in March 2021. The quality reports contain information that districts may find useful when evaluating materials for local adoption.