{
  "code": "EFA",
  "title": "Instructional Resources: Instructional Materials",
  "description": "Conroe ISD Policy EFA governs how instructional materials are selected, approved, and used in district schools. It establishes criteria for evaluating materials, outlines restrictions on certain types of content, and defines the role of district leadership in overseeing compliance with instructional material standards.",
  "last_action_date": "2025-09-16",
  "last_action_result": "adopted",
  "timeline_local": [
    {
      "date": "2025-09-16",
      "school_year": "2025-2026",
      "action": "adopted",
      "result": "adopted",
      "summary": "This update to Conroe ISD's Policy EFA (Instructional Resources: Instructional Materials) significantly expands the definition of instructional materials, adds civic knowledge and founding documents requirements to selection criteria, creates a new \"Rejected Instructional Materials\" section prohibiting use of State Board of Education-rejected materials, removes the controversial topics criterion, and adds a new Superintendent Authority section requiring compliance certification by February 1, 2026.",
      "changes_added": "[\"(as defined below) designed to teach the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and further the District's educational mission, and be consistent with Board Policy CH (Local), EFB (Local), EMB (Local), and EMI (Local) and this Policy.\",\n\"Although the Superintendent may select Instructional Materials for their use in accordance with District policy and administrative regulations, the ultimate authority for determining and approving the curriculum and instructional program of the District lies with the Board.\",\n\"but is not limited to, textbooks, workbooks, supplementary resources for classroom use, a combination of book, workbook, and supplementary materials, including all media, writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, pictures, film, videotapes, sound recordings, images, data, and data compilations of any kind, electronic resources, such as computer software, magnetic media, DVD, CD-ROM, computer courseware, online services, or an electronic media or other means of conveying information to students or otherwise contributing to the learning process through electronic means, that are\",\n\"Aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and are consistent with this Policy, Board Policy CH(Local), EFB(Local), EMB(Local), and EMI(Local). [Item 1 in selection criteria list]\",\n\"Are designed to help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society. [Item 5]\",\n\"Are designed to provide information that will motivate students and staff to examine their own attitudes and behavior; to understand their duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges as citizens participating in our society; and to make informed choices in their daily lives. [Item 6]\",\n\"Are designed to develop each student's civil knowledge, including: a. An understanding of: i. The fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government; ii. The history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic engagement in the United States; iii. The structure, function, and processes of government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; and iv. The founding documents of the United States; b. The ability to: i. Analyze and determine the reliability of information sources; ii. Formulate and articulate reasoned positions; iii. Understand the manner in which local, state, and federal government works and operates through the use of simulations and models of governmental and democratic processes; iv. Actively listen and engage in civil discourse, including discourse with those with different viewpoints; and v. Participate as a citizen in a constitutional democracy by voting; and c. An appreciation of: i. The importance and responsibility of participating in civic life; ii. A commitment to the United States and its form of government; and iii. A commitment to free speech and civil discourse. [Item 10]\",\n\"When selecting Instructional Materials or providing instruction regarding the founding documents of the United States, these shall be presented appropriately for the grade level and in supportive, comprehensive, and affirmatory manner that respects the entirety of the document. The founding documents of the United States include the entirety of the Declaration of Independence; the entirety of the United States Constitution; the Federalist Papers, including the entirety of Essays 10 and 51; excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America; the transcript of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate; the writings of the founding fathers of the United States; the entirety of Frederick Douglass's speeches \"The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro\" and \"What the Black Man Wants\"; and the entirety of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech \"I Have a Dream.\"\",\n\"District professional staff shall avoid classroom assignments which utilize iInstructional mMaterials that teach prohibited concepts under the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and Board Policy CH (Local), EFB (Local), EMB (Local), EMI (Local), and this Policy. [See EMB]\",\n\"Prior to Board approval or vote, the Superintendent shall certify to the Board that the instructional materials comply with this Policy.\",\n\"The Superintendent shall develop policies and procedures to comply with this policy. The Superintendent shall certify to the Board that the District is in compliance with this policy by no later than February 1, 2026. [in Selection section]\",\n\"Rejected Instructional Materials [new section heading]\",\n\"No course of instruction, unit of study, materials, Instructional Materials, or any other curricular or extracurricular offerings adopting, supporting, or promoting items on the list of rejected instructional materials maintained by the State Board of Education under Texas Education Code § 31.022(a) shall be used or introduced in any District school or otherwise.\",\n\"For the avoidance of doubt, this prohibition will also include any such materials or Instructional Materials that a teacher or administrator might seek to provide to any student, including any situation in which a teacher or administrator would allow a student to \"borrow\" such materials or Instructional Materials from the teacher's or administrator's private collection.\",\n\"Any materials or Instructional Materials adopting, supporting, or promoting on the list of rejected instructional materials maintained by the State Board of Education under Texas Education Code § 31.022(a) shall be removed from any District premises generally accessible to the student population, including but not limited to any library or classroom setting.\",\n\"requests to reconsider [replacing 'an objection to the appropriateness of' in Informal Reconsideration section]\",\n\"requests to reconsider [replacing 'challenged' before iInstructional mMaterial in Informal Reconsideration section]\",\n\"a formal [replacing 'an informal' in Formal Reconsideration section]\",\n\"for compliance with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and compliance consistent with Board Policy CH(Local), EFB(Local), EMB(Local), EMI(Local), and this Policy. [added to reconsideration committee review standard]\",\n\"the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and in accordance with this Policy, Board Policy [added to Gifts and Donations section]\",\n\"CH(Local), EFB(Local), EMB(Local), and EMI(Local). [added to Gifts and Donations section]\",\n\"Superintendent Authority [new section heading]\",\n\"The Superintendent shall develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with this Policy. The Superintendent shall certify to the Board of Trustees that the District complies with this Policy not later than February 1, 2026.\",\n\"grievance [replacing 'complaint' in Appeal section]\"]",
      "changes_removed": [
        "The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that professional staff select instructional materials in accordance with District policy and administrative procedures. The ultimate authority for determining and approving the curriculum and instructional program of the District lies with the Board.",
        "and any other instructional resources, including electronic resources,",
        "Present various sides of controversial issues so that students have an opportunity to develop, under guidance, skills in critical analysis and in making informed judgments in their daily lives. [See also EMB regarding instruction about controversial topics.] [Item 7 renumbered/removed]",
        "an objection to the appropriateness of [in Informal Reconsideration section]",
        "challenged [before iInstructional mMaterial in Informal Reconsideration section]",
        "an informal [in Formal Reconsideration section]",
        "complaint [in Appeal section]",
        "and CDC(Local), [in Gifts and Donations section]",
        "may [replaced by 'shall' in Guiding Principle 3 regarding denying access]"
      ],
      "meeting_notes_url": "https://cisd-meetings.boardmonitor.app/meeting.html?id=2025-09-16_regular",
      "confidence": "high",
      "source_redline": "EFA_LOCAL.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "timeline_legal": [],
  "policy_connect_url": "https://policyconnect.org/policy/conroe-isd/EFA"
}