Parents and community members along with teachers are invited to attend the Instructional Materials Showcase 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Canyon Middle School, 2014 FM 1101, New Braunfels. This is an opportunity to view instructional materials and attend publisher presentations on the K-8 English language arts (ELA) and Spanish language arts (SLA) textbook adoptions being considered for Comal ISD.
“When new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are adopted, the State Board of Education (SBOE) issues what is called a ‘proclamation,’” explains Comal ISD Curriculum Director Ronessa McDonald. “Essentially, that means that new instructional materials are adopted to match the TEKS. School districts then choose new materials for their students.”
The SBOE conducts a review of TEKS for each content area on a rotating schedule, McDonald says, issuing a proclamation asking for new instructional materials once it has revised or adopted new TEKS. The proclamation lists the subject areas scheduled for review and is named for the year the materials will go into the classroom.
Proclamation 2019 was issued by the SBOE at its April 2017 meeting calling for instructional materials for ELA and reading, grades K-8; SLA and reading, grades K-6; spelling (English and Spanish), grades 1-6; handwriting (English and Spanish), grades K-5; English Learners Language Arts, grades 7-8; and Personal Financial Literacy.
The materials viewed during the Showcase will be used in the classrooms during the 2019-2020 school year. Comal ISD ELA and SLA teachers will vote on their choice of materials in February, and their choices will go before the Comal ISD Board of Trustees in April or May for approval.