Focus Report, Volume 77, Number 17, February 2002 Page: 1
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TXD L1801.7 H816SEF NO.77-17
1/31/2003 Texas State Document0l/08
University of Texas-Pan AmericanHOUSE
RESEARCH
* ORGANIZATION
Texas House of Representatives
REPORT
fl~~~7[ ~ ~ ~ T 7TST7 Ji'1L ATEDttOCUMNT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PAN AMERICAN
FthNOURG, TEXAS 7Pr139-2999The textbook approval
process
Box: Textbook Selection:
A Question of Authority
Recent textbook
controversies
What's next?February 22, 2002
DEPOSITORYLlu&,
JAN 3 0 2003
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PAN AMERICAN
EDINBURG, TEXAS 78539-2999Fact or faction: The SBOE's
role in textbook adoption
Recent controversy over the adoption of science textbooks for Texas
public schools has focused renewed attention on the State Board of
Education (SBOE) and its role in selecting textbooks.Before 1995, the Education Code gave the SBOE wide latitude to
determine which textbooks were most acceptable for use in the schools.
However, controversies arose repeatedly when the board wielded such
authority. Past disputes included the treatment of evolution and of certain
historical events, the content of books that discussed sex education,
controversial stories in literature anthologies, and the inclusion of certain
words in dictionaries. Since 1995, when the 74th Legislature restricted the
board's powers regarding textbook adoption, the debate has shifted toward
identification of factual errors. However, some observers say that textbook
selection in Texas remains a highly contentious political process.
Because Texas adopts textbooks for statewide use, the state is one of
the nation's largest purchasers of textbooks. For fiscal 2002-03, state
lawmakers appropriated $570 million for textbooks, up from $471 million
in fiscal 2000-01. California and Florida also use central adoption methods.
Due to their sheer volume of purchasing, these three states hold significant
sway over the content of textbooks. Generally, publishers
say it is uneconomical for them to create separate
The extent of the SBOE's future versions of a textbook for the "big three" states
control over textbook adoption could depend on and for other states. As a result, the Texas,
decisions by the Legislature, the attorney general, Calorni, or Fli versi of a book usually
is the version published nationally.
or Texas voters.
Created in the 1866 Texas Constitution, the SBOE
has been revamped many times. Besides adopting textbooks
and the state curriculum, the board's primary responsibility is toNumber 77-17 -
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - PAN AMERICAN
1161 0494 4057I
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Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Research Organization. Focus Report, Volume 77, Number 17, February 2002, periodical, February 22, 2002; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth640633/m1/1/?q=%22~1%22~1&rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.