4. How to Review Textbooks Being Considered.

Copies of textbooks being considered may be checked out for several days at any of the twenty Regional Education Service Centers. A list of the centers is available from item #9 on the Table of Contents. A second copy of each textbook is always available for review at each center. This second copy may not be checked out.

5. Things to look for in a textbook.

Important omissions. Unbalanced presentations. A good place to begin is by reviewing the index to quickly see what is included and what is omitted. Compare the space allocated to important and lesser subjects. Review what others have concluded. If you timely file your support or objection, the TEA will send you a copy of what others have written.

6. How to object or support a textbook.

Write a short, concise letter specifying the portion(s) of the book(s) you object to, or support, and why, with page references.

7. Deadlines

All the deadlines to submit written objections and requests for oral testimony are contained in a SBOE/TEA document entitled Proclamation 1994, a copy of which may be ordered from the TEA. There is no charge. Some deadlines are:

August 19, 1996 - State Textbook Subject Area Committees began to discuss and vote on instructional materials to be recommended for adoption.

September 18, 1996 - Commissioner of Education submits recommendations of State Textbook Subject Area Committees to SBOE.

October 1, 1996 - Final date for Texas residents to request in writing to appear at the public hearing before the SBOE. Requests shall identify the subject, title, and publisher of each instructional material to be addressed by the speaker and must be filed with the Texas Education Agency Division of Curriculum Development and Textbooks by 5:00 p.m. Page references are helpful. The address to register to appear at a hearing is: Textbook Administration, Texas Education Agency, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701-1494. Telephone: (512) 463-9601, Fax: (512) 475-3612.

October 18, 1996 - Final date to file written support or objection. Requests should identify the subject, title, and publisher of each instructional material. Page references are helpful.

October 22, 1996 - The written materials are distributed to members of the SBOE Textbook Subject Area Textbook Committees, publishers, and persons scheduled to appear at the hearing.

November 4-9, 1996 - SBOE holds public hearings on instructional materials recommended for adoption.

8. Suggestions

October 1, 1996 is the deadline to request to testify at the November hearing. October 18, 1996 is the deadline to file written objections or support. You may file your written objections or support even if you can't testify. Filing is accomplished when the request to testify or the written materials are received by the Texas Education Agency, Division of Curriculum Development and Textbooks The correct address is: Texas Education Agency, Textbook Administration, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701-1494. Telephone: (512) 463-9601, Fax: (512) 475-3612.

Whether to appear before the SBOE as an individual citizen, or as a spokesman for a group, is not an easy decision. Most persons are members of several groups but can only speak for themselves. A member of large group making a well grounded objection or support, and speaking as a spokesman for that group, may have considerable impact. Appearing before the SBOE as Citizen Smith may also effective. You still should timely file your written objections or support even if you aren't able to testify in person. Your support or objection may be distributed by the SBOE to others who file with the SBOE and will be available for review by school boards considering the books.

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