IMRA Cycle 2026 · Staff Quick Reference · 100s Deck — Side A
IMRA 100s — Overview, Criteria & Reviewer Roles
Pre-Work Reference
What Is IMRA?
  • SBOE's annual Instructional Materials Review & Approval process — established by HB 1605 (88th Legislature, 2023)
  • Provides objective, statewide data so districts can make informed adoption decisions
  • Does not replace district review processes
  • Does not require districts to adopt only approved materials
  • Final reports published at im.tea.texas.gov
Key Terminology
Program OfferingAll programs from one publisher across a grade band (e.g., Mockingbird Math K–5)
ProgramMaterials for one specific grade & subject
ComponentIndividual part of a program — each requires a unique ISBN
ArtifactAn individual unit, lesson, activity, image, etc. that lives within a component — e.g., Unit 4, Lesson 1, Activity 3
Full-Subject Tier-OneCovers ALL TEKS for a grade/subject — no supplementation needed if implemented as designed
Partial-Subject Tier-OneCovers a portion of TEKS — complete for the standards it addresses
SupplementalAssists with one or more TEKS; not designed to stand alone
TEKSTexas Essential Knowledge & Skills — the state standards reviewers evaluate materials against
ELPSEnglish Language Proficiency Standards — apply to English learners in Texas
HQIMHigh-Quality Instructional Materials
6 SBOE Criteria
Four criteria evaluated before the SBOE vote (reviewer responsibility). Two apply after (TEA and publisher responsibility).
Before the SBOE Vote — Reviewers
✓ Standards Alignment100% coverage required (Cycle 2026)
✓ Quality ReviewRubrics + three-cueing compliance
✓ Suitability7 rubric categories
✓ Factual ErrorsBoth QRs and SRs responsible for identifying and reporting
After the SBOE Vote — TEA and Publisher
◷ Physical & Electronic SpecsAccessibility, alt text, captions, color contrast — TEA verifies
◷ Parent PortalPublishers must make materials accessible; districts can report non-compliance
Reviewer Types
Quality Reviewer (QR)Suitability Reviewer (SR)
Primary focusStandards alignment & qualitySuitability compliance & excellence
Also doesFlags suitability issues; factual errorsFactual errors; publisher feedback
Team size5 reviewers3 reviewers
Consensus?Yes — alignment & quality scoresNo — each submits independently
IMRA Cycle 2026 Timeline
WhenWhat
May 14–16SR In-Person Kickoff, Dallas TX
June 2026Standards alignment ends; Phase 1 appeals open
August 2026Phase 2 appeals begin
September 2026Preliminary reports to SBOE
November 2026Final reports; SBOE vote
Dec 2026–Apr 2027Cure period
What's Reviewed in Cycle 2026
  • Math K–12 & Advanced Math 6–8
  • ELAR K–5 & English Phonics K–3
  • SLAR K–5 & Spanish Phonics K–3
  • Supplemental ELAR K–5 & Supplemental SLAR K–5
  • Fine Arts K–12
  • CTE (Batch 1)
Key Coaching Roles
Review CoachPrimary QR team contact; facilitates Unpacking Meeting; supports standards alignment & consensus protocols; provides weekly feedback
Reporting CoachFacilitates Drafting Meeting; takes Consensus notes; supports accuracy of written submissions
Suitability CoachPrimary SR team contact; ensures decisions align with rubric expectations
Written Submission SupportOne QR per team; leads DES drafting; guides indicator-level reporting
Coaches support consistency and rigor — they do not make decisions for review teams. Each coach supports multiple quality review teams.
Three Principles of Evidence Collection
Stay True to the ProgramReview based on what the materials actually contain — not assumptions or expectations
Stay True to the RubricAlign evidence directly to rubric criteria; maintain consistent interpretation of rubric language
Give Meaningful InsightPrioritize the strongest evidence to serve districts, parents, and other stakeholders
IMRA Cycle 2026 · Staff Quick Reference · 100s Deck — Side A of 2
im.tea.texas.gov
IMRA Cycle 2026 · Staff Quick Reference · 100s Deck — Side B
IMRA 100s — Conduct Rules, Suitability & Reporting
Pre-Work Reference
Reviewer Conduct Rules (TAC §67.29)
⚠ Violations must be reported immediately to the Commissioner of Education & SBOE Chair. You are not responsible for others' violations — but you ARE responsible for reporting them.
No Gifts or BenefitsNever accept meals, entertainment, gifts, or favors from publishers, authors, agents, or anyone with a financial interest in approval — regardless of size or intent
Official Meetings OnlyDiscuss materials only during official virtual or in-person review meetings, and only with assigned panel members — not informally with colleagues or other reviewers
No Outside CommunicationNo discussion of materials with SBOE members, unions, organizations, publishers, or anyone with a financial or political interest until the official list is posted
No-Contact PeriodFrom the moment you are contracted through release from duties: zero contact — direct or indirect — with anyone who has an interest in the approval of materials. Applies even at conferences or public settings. Even a polite greeting = walk away and report it.
Duty to ReportIf a publisher, author, or anyone with a financial interest contacts you, walk away immediately and report the contact to the Commissioner and SBOE Chair
Factual Errors
SBOE DefinitionA verified error of fact OR any error that would interfere with student learning — includes grammatical errors, inaccurate calculations, misaligned information, incorrect hyperlinks
Suitability Rubric: 7 Categories
#CategoryKey Prohibition / Requirement
1Common CoreNo CCSS reference or alignment — explicit or implicit. Note: multilingual supports for EBs are not CCSS evidence.
2Public Education's Constitutional GoalSupports self-governance, American patriotism, founding documents, free enterprise. No gratuitous violence, lawlessness, race/sex superiority. 1776 = founding year (not 1619). Historical protests are NOT prohibited.
3Parental RightsMust not interfere with parents' right to direct moral & religious training (Family Code §151.001)
4No Forced Political ActivityCannot require teachers to address controversial topics; no grades for lobbying or political activism at any level
5Protecting Children's InnocenceNo harmful, obscene, pervasively vulgar, or sexually explicit content. Evaluated holistically — consider grade level.
6Sexual Risk AvoidanceK–3 firewall: no sexuality or reproductive health content of any kind. Grades 4+: abstinence presented as preferred and only 100% effective option; no abortion promotion.
7CIPA ComplianceDigital materials: no harmful images; pre-screened external links; moderation tools for user-generated content. Print-only programs are exempt.
Section 1 vs. Section 2 Flags
🚩 Section 1 — Prohibition (Red Flag)

Content that must not appear. Both specific (one location) and thematic (repeated pattern — requires 3 documented instances at different locations) apply.

✅ Section 2 — Excellence (Green Flag)

Positive evidence of required content (patriotism, founding documents, free enterprise). Required for all programs except supplemental math. Specific flags only — no thematic excellence flags.

Every flag must be tied to specific rubric indicator language. Personal opinion or general concern is not a reportable flag. If you cannot point to a rubric indicator, you do not have a flag.
Suitability Reporting Form Fields
  1. Reviewer type: Quality Reviewer or Suitability Reviewer
  2. Flag type: Section 1 (prohibition) or Section 2 (excellence)
  3. Suitability category & subcategory
  4. Publishing company & program offering name
  5. Component title & ISBN (auto-populates)
  6. Specific or Thematic
  7. Page number — never blank; use navigation text for digital (e.g., "Unit 2, Lesson 4")
  8. Hyperlink to exact location; type N/A for print-only programs
  9. Description of Location — use directional language: "bottom right corner of page 16…" / "under the orange 'Student Action' heading…" / "beginning at 1:34 and ending at 4:57…"
Thematic flags require three sets of the above fields (one per instance). All three must be at different locations.
Key Takeaways — 100s
  • SR teams work independently — no consensus required for suitability
  • QR teams reach consensus on alignment scores and quality scores
  • Coaches provide feedback weekly; reviewers have 5 days to correct
  • Category 5 (obscene content) ≠ Category 6 (sexuality instruction)
  • IMRA informs district decisions — it does not mandate them
IMRA Cycle 2026 · Staff Quick Reference · 100s Deck — Side B of 2
im.tea.texas.gov