Reviewer for Instructional Materials Review and Approval: Initial Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming a quality or suitability reviewer for the 2025 Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) cycle!


Please note that this application can take 30 to 45 minutes to complete and does not allow you to save and return. We recommend first completing your responses to the short answer questions in a separate document and then transferring them to the application when you are ready to fill it out. Please be as detailed as possible in all your responses.



Role Description and Minimum Qualifications


The quality reviewer evaluates how well instructional materials align with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), as applicable. The quality reviewer uses content-specific and SBOE-approved IMRA quality rubrics for this evaluation. The work also includes assessment for factual accuracy.


A quality reviewer must meet one of the following minimum qualifications:

  1. Educators with three or more years of experience;
  2. District or campus personnel who have taught and/or directly supported the grade level(s) and subject area(s) or course(s) for at least three years;
  3. Adjunct professors at an accredited institution of higher education in Texas for at least three years; or
  4. Persons with evidence of strong content knowledge and experience in the grade level(s) and subject area(s) or course(s).


The suitability reviewer uses the SBOE-approved suitability rubric to evaluate instructional materials for a specific subject and grade level(s). This includes identifying areas of noncompliance, as well as gathering lesson-level evidence for compliance with indicators 2.1.1 and 6.2, as applicable.


Minimum Qualifications for Suitability Reviewer:

  1. Texas residency



Reviewer Application Process


This initial application is the first step in a three-part process for selection as an IMRA quality reviewer. After the initial application, eligible applicants for the quality review will be asked to complete a performance task. The final step for quality review applicants is a structured group interview.


For IMRA suitability reviewers, this initial application is the only step required to be considered for selection as an IMRA reviewer.


All applicants will be notified of their eligibility to advance through the application process, and additional information about each next step will be provided at the time of notification.


Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until February 24, 2025, at 11:59 pm CST.



General Timeline


All selected reviewers are expected to attend mandatory in-person and virtual training, conduct their work on a regular basis, and attend meetings throughout the review period. The majority of the work occurs between April and September; however, there may be additional work required in October and November. Those selected as Leads for the Quality Review will have additional time commitments commensurate with the expectations of that role.


We are tentatively planning to hold a combination of face-to-face meetings May 2–5, 2025 (Location TBD) and virtual training sessions and meetings at various points from April to November. For your planning purposes, please assume that this role will require travel May 2–5, 2025 and weekend/evening availability throughout the summer.


Questions and Informational Webinars


If you have any questions or concerns about the application or the application process, please fill out the IMRA applicant inquiry form.


Additionally, you may register for office hours that will be hosted throughout the application window.

PART 1: Contact Information

Please tell us about yourself and your professional experience.

Please note that a home address must be provided, not a P.O. Box.

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As a non-Texas resident, you are only qualified to serve on the quality review.

Please keep this in mind as you complete the remainder of the application.

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Preferred Review Type*

The quality review evaluates instructional materials for alignment with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and applicable English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS); evaluates quality using the content-specific, SBOE-approved IMRA quality rubric; and assesses factual accuracy.


Note: Texas work experience is a requirement to serve as a quality reviewer.


The suitability review uses the SBOE-approved suitability rubric to evaluate instructional materials for a specific subject and grade level(s). This includes identifying areas of noncompliance, as well as gathering lesson-level evidence for compliance with indicators 2.1.1 and 6.2, as applicable.


Note: Texas residency is a requirement to to serve as a suitability reviewer.

Do you have content expertise?*

Note: Each applicant will be considered for all available roles, and if selected, your preference will be considered but not guaranteed.


Quality Reviewer: determines percentage of standards alignment, identifies factual errors, gathers evidence of quality, attends weekly team meetings, and participates in consensus building on evidence and scores.


Quality Lead: determines percentage of standards alignment, identifies factual errors, gathers evidence of quality, provides feedback to reviewers on their evidence, collaborates with Safal staff to ensure quality of reports, facilitates weekly team meetings and consensus-building discussions, attends and participates in additional weekly meetings with Safal staff, synthesizes evidence into weekly reports, revises and polishes draft reports based on feedback from content experts, and listens and clarifies during consensus building discussions. This role requires skills in synthesizing and clearly communicating technical information. Content and grade band expertise are preferred but not required.


Suitability Reviewer: evaluates suitability of content, identifies factual errors, and attends weekly team meetings.


Suitability Lead: evaluates suitability of content, identifies factual errors, attends and facilitates weekly team meetings, monitors team progress, and ensures entries meet expectations.


Note: Texas residency is a requirement to serve as a suitability reviewer or lead.

This position requires an email address that does not block or filter communication. We suggest entering a personal Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook email address. If you do not have one, you may sign up for a new Gmail address by creating a Google account.


Each person may only submit one application. Duplicate emails will not be processed. If you need an adjustment made to your application, please fill out the IMRA applicant inquiry form.

Please enter a valid phone number.

Phone
Can you receive text messages on the cell phone number provided?*

Please enter a valid phone number.

Phone
Can you receive text messages on the alternate phone number provided?

Twenty regional service centers provide services to school districts throughout Texas. To see a map of the districts and counties in each ESC region, use the TEA's School District Locator.


Note: Enter your full home address and zoom out to view your ESC region.

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Your SBOE district is different than your ESC region. There are 15 State Board of Education districts in Texas, each with an elected member representing the people of that district. Please indicate the appropriate SBOE district in which your home address is located. You can find your district number by entering your home address and zip code into Who Represents Me?

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(Select all that apply.)

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(e.g. Proclamation 2019 state review panel, ELAR TEKS work group, etc.)


PART 2: Education and Professional Experience

Please provide a detailed description of your education history.

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List all degrees you have earned, beginning with the most recent, including the field of study and the institution for each.

Degree 1

(e.g., Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts)

Add another Degree*

Degree 2

Add another Degree*

Degree 3

Add Another Degree*

Degree 4

Please provide a detailed description of your most recent employment history.

(Select all that apply.)

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(If you are an educator, select your District, Charter, or ESC.)

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(Enter N/A if you are not a school-based employee.)

If this is your current employer, leave blank.

Current Supervisor

Phone
I would like to add additional employment history.*

(If you are an educator, select your District, Charter, or ESC.)

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(Enter N/A if you are not a school-based employee.)

I would like to add additional employment history.*

(If you are an educator, select your District, Charter, or ESC.)

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(Enter N/A if you are not a school-based employee.)

(Enter N/A if not applicable.)

List two references other than your current supervisor.

Reference 1:

Phone

Reference 2

Phone

Classroom teacher, campus/district specialist or administrator, educational service center subject area personnel, higher education instructor, or other subject matter expert directly supporting the specified grade band, subject area(s), or course(s).

Examples of relevant roles and experiences may include but are not limited to the following: team leadership, committee membership, professional development planning, technology integration, curriculum and assessment writing, and content/department leadership.


Enter N/A if you do not have experience.

Do you have experience working in a Title 1 school that serve a high concentration of students from low-income households?*
Do you have experience teaching and assessing emergent bilingual students using standards and guidelines stated in the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS)?*
Do you have experience teaching students requiring special education and related services?*

(Select all that apply.)

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(Select all that apply.)

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Do you have experience in other content areas not listed?*

Education Service Center (ESC) Experience

(Leave blank if N/A.)

Higher Education Experience

(Leave blank if N/A.)

(e.g., assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, lecturer, instructor, or other administrative, research, or support roles)


(Leave blank if N/A.)

(Select all that apply.)

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You can search the SBOE certification records to view your Texas educator certification status.


(Select all that apply.)

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(e.g. Project Management Professional (PMP), Google Certification, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Real Estate License, etc.)


(Leave blank if N/A.)

(e.g., language skills, work experience, professional learning, leadership roles, etc.)


PART 3: Short Answer Questions

Please complete the following short answer questions. Responses to each question should be original and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI).


Please limit your responses to 250 words.

Category two begins on the second page of the suitability rubric.

All selected reviewers are expected to attend mandatory in-person and virtual training, conduct their work on a regular basis, and attend meetings throughout the review period. The majority of the work occurs between April and September; however, there may be additional work required in October and November. Those selected as Leads for the Quality Review will have additional time commitments commensurate with the expectations of that role.

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Do you foresee any conflicts impacting your availability to fulfill in-person and virtual training requirements?

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PART 4: Demographic Information

The following questions will assist us in forming balanced, highly-qualified, review teams that reflect the make-up of the state’s educators and students.

Gender*
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Select the option that best describes the community where you work.*

If not currently employed, select the option that best describes the community where you live.

Beginner: basic or limited skills; can read, write, speak, and comprehend simple words and phrases


Intermediate: moderate skills; can read, write, speak, and comprehend general vocabulary and conversation


Advanced: near-native proficiency; can read, write, speak, and comprehend academic vocabulary and conversation effortlessly in a wide range of settings


Fluent: native or native-like proficiency; can read, write, speak, and comprehend with ease in any setting; full command of the language, including cultural and idiomatic nuances


N/A: no Spanish language skills

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Have you worked with or on behalf of a publisher to author K–12 instructional materials in the last three years (36 months)?*

This applies to print, digital, and Open Education Resources (OER) materials.

Have you been employed by, or received funds from, any individual or entity affiliated with a publishing company involved in or connected to the adoption of instructional materials?*
Have you owned or controlled any interest valued at more than $5,000 in a privately-owned publishing company, or an entity receiving funds from a publishing company, involved in or connected to the adoption of instructional materials or had direct ownership of stock of a publicly traded-company involved in or connected to the adoption of instructional materials?*

(Select all that apply.)

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Note: IMRA communication is usually filtered into e-mail spam or junk folders.


You should receive an email confirming your initial application submission. If you do not, please check your spam or junk folder and then contact us using the IMRA applicant inquiry form.