We have less time than I thought: Contact your representatives about the State Required Reading List

THEY ARE MEETING NEXT WEEK FOR FIRST READING into the Texas Administrative Code.  

Bottom line: A state list will never meet the needs of the local ISD or individual humans. Follow the child, not a list. Remember the child! 

State Board of Education Agenda for January 27-30

Items of ELAR Interest on the 28th

• IMRA Cycle Stuff
• And this gem: Discussion of Vocabulary Lists for Kindergarten-Grade 12 Reading Language Arts (Board agenda page I-68) This item provides an opportunity for the committee to receive an update and discuss commissioner of education recommendations for vocabulary lists to be taught in each grade level K-12 as required by House Bill (HB) 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, 2023. Statutory authority is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.002(c-4). 
• They are discussing the Required Readings: 
• Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 110, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading, Subchapter A, Elementary, §110.10, Literary Works Lists, Kindergarten-Grade 5, Adopted 2026; Subchapter B, Middle School, §110.30 Literary Works Lists, Grades 6-8, Adopted 2026; and Subchapter C, High School, §110.70, Literary Works Lists, High School, Adopted 2026; and Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 128, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Spanish Language Arts and Reading and English as a Second Language, Subchapter A, Elementary, §128.10, Literary Works Lists, Kindergarten-Grade 5, Adopted 2026; Subchapter B, Middle School, §128.30, Literary Works Lists, Grade 6 and English Learners Language Arts (ELLA), Grades 7 and 8, Adopted 2026; and Subchapter C, High School, §128.70, Literary Works Lists, High School, Adopted 2026 (First Reading and Filing Authorization) (Board agenda page I-69) This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 110, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading, Subchapter A, Elementary, §110.10, Literary Works Lists, Kindergarten-Grade 5, Adopted 2026; Subchapter B, Middle School, §110.30, Literary Works Lists, Grades 6-8, Adopted 2026; and Subchapter C, High School, §110.70, Literary Works Lists, High School, Adopted 2026; and proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 128, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Spanish Language Arts and Reading and English as a Second Language, Subchapter A, Elementary, §128.10, Literary Works Lists, Kindergarten-Grade 5, Adopted 2026; Subchapter B, Middle School, §128.30, Literary Works Lists, Grade 6 and English Learners Language Arts (ELLA), Grades 7 and 8, Adopted 2026; and Subchapter C, High School, §128.70, Literary Works Lists, High School, Adopted 2026. The proposed new sections would add lists of literary works to be taught in each grade level as required by House Bill (HB) 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. Statutory authority is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.002(c-4), as added by HB 1605, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
• They are discussing Social Studies - and with the current knowledge building philosophy and cross curricular connections for assessment - what they approve will impact us and what we are asked to read. 
• Thursday - They'll discuss the ELPS. 
• And more stuff on IMRA - prolly should look closer at some of the publishers they mention for contracts. 
• For the Panhandle Area - there's an item on Boys Ranch. 
• Charter Schools are on the agenda. So are things on personnel and certification requirements. And more. 

But ya'll: THE LIST. 

ACTION: When you talk to your folks - tell them that you want teacher committees to review that list. The survey was NOT enough for teacher participation

ACTION:  And that you want a feasibility study done on how long it would take kids to read that required stuff. Use the Hasbrook and Tindall 2017 fluency norms. Might even help to say how long it takes for the audio books. 

ACTION: And certainly address that the State of Texas is NOT what we'd call a quality author for reading materials. Raise concerns about the overfocus on reading to the exclusion of other standards like writing. 

ACTION: And then call your legislators and let them know that while they probably meant well for this HB mess, the reality of implementation isn't what they intended. 

ACTION: You can sign up to testify as well. Show up if you can. There will be a time later when they will take testimony specifically on this issue. But every time and all the time is best. 

A state list will never meet the needs of the local ISD. Follow the child, not a list. 

Additional Information: 

1. Draft Language for the list

2. PPT from TEA to give background for the board

3. How to contact your people: SBOE representative and legislative leaders in Texas