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The Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process is structured into five, clearly defined phases, each designed to guide publishers through specific procedural requirements and decision points. Phase 0, which occurs before an IMRA cycle begins, explains the development and approval of the quality rubrics used throughout the IMRA cycle. 

The following information provides an overview of the IMRA process, from start to finish. 

• Phase 0: IMRA Rubrics
• Phase 1: Publisher Application
• Phase 2: Selection of Instructional Materials
• Phase 3: Instructional Materials Review
• Phase 4: Appeals and Approvals
• Phase 5: Post-Approval Submissions

Phase 0: IMRA Rubrics

TEA collaborates with the State Board of Education (SBOE) to determine the subject areas and grade bands for which rubrics will be developed. TEA engages with multiple stakeholders, including Texas parents, educators, education service center (ESC) staff, and publishers, to create draft rubrics. TEA presents the draft rubrics to the SBOE for feedback, makes revisions, and presents the rubrics at a later meeting for approval.

All selected instructional materials will be assessed and scored using the applicable IMRA quality rubric for the program category and type. The following links are to the SBOE-approved rubrics that will be used to assess materials by IMRA reviewers for IMRA Cycle 2026, as of January 2026. The K–3 English language arts and reading (ELAR) and Spanish language arts and reading (SLAR) rubrics include phonics components to ensure alignments with foundational literacy instruction.

• IMRA CTE 6–12 Quality Rubric (PDF) 

• IMRA ELAR K–3 Quality Rubric (PDF) 

• IMRA ELAR 4–8 Quality Rubric (PDF)  

• IMRA Fine Arts K–12 Quality Rubric (PDF) 

• IMRA Mathematics K–12 Quality Rubric (PDF)  

• IMRA SLAR K–3 Quality Rubric (PDF)  

• IMRA SLAR 4–6 Quality Rubric (PDF) 

• IMRA Supplemental Mathematics K–12 Quality Rubric (PDF) 

• IMRA Supplemental RLA K–5 Quality Rubric (�ʶٹ�) &�Բ�����;

The rubrics are divided into two categories: implementation quality and learning quality.  

• The implementation quality category is designed to measure the extent to which the materials support effective implementation, including intentional instructional design, progress monitoring, and support for all learners.  
• The learning quality category is unique for each rubric and measures the extent to which materials include high-quality elements that are aligned with research on the best ways to teach the subject and support students in reaching grade-level proficiency on the standards. 

Phase 1: Publisher Application

For each annual IMRA cycle, TEA issues a request for instructional materials (RFIM). The RFIM is a public, open request for publishers to submit their programs for consideration and review. The RFIM includes the subject areas and grade level(s) or course(s) that are eligible for that review cycle, publisher requirements for participation and approval, and a timeline for application to the process.  If the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are revised for a subject and grade level or course for which there are IMRA-approved instructional materials, the SBOE will issue a proclamation requesting the revision of approved instructional materials.

Publishers apply to participate in the IMRA process, providing basic program information, required assurances, and initial documentation to confirm eligibility. Response submissions will be due in phases according to the review Anticipated Schedule of Events in the RFIM.

Publishers must provide the following information in the IMRA Cycle 2026 RFIM Response Form A: Publisher Business Information.* Each publisher will submit only one Response Form.  Following the completion of Response Form A, a link to Form B: Publisher Program Submission will be sent to the publisher’s point of contact. Each grade-level program requires a separate Form B submission.  

*The deadline for Response Form A was Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Access to the form has been deactivated.

Withdrawal Deadline

Publishers have until January 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST to voluntarily withdraw from the review process. This deadline marks the final opportunity for publishers to opt out without having their materials reviewed or publicly reported.

After this date, withdrawal is no longer permitted. If a publisher chooses not to engage in the review cycle after the deadline, their submitted instructional materials will still be reviewed by TEA and IMRA reviewers. These materials may be placed on the List of Approved Instructional Materials or the List of Rejected Instructional Materials, depending on the outcome of the review. The results will be made publicly available and may impact the publisher’s future participation and ability to sell materials in Texas (TEC §31.0211(f)(2) and TEC §31.024).

This policy ensures transparency and accountability in the IMRA process and allows TEA to maintain a consistent review schedule and resource allocation. Publishers are strongly encouraged to make a final decision about participation before the withdrawal deadline to avoid unintended consequences.

Note: If the SBOE votes to include a program in the review, the publisher must participate—even if a withdrawal request was submitted.

Phase 2: Selection of Instructional Materials 

Once the application deadline has closed and the publisher withdrawal window has passed, TEA provides the SBOE with a market share analysis that identifies the most purchased materials for each subject and grade band and the list of voluntary submissions. The SBOE, by majority vote, may require instructional materials to be reviewed in the current IMRA cycle. Additionally, TEA may require instructional materials to be reviewed if Texas schools purchase those materials using their instructional materials and technology allotment funds.  

If the list of instructional materials to be reviewed exceeds TEA’s review capacity, TEA will reduce the number of materials on the list using the following prioritization protocol:

1. Any materials required to be reviewed by the SBOE.
2. Materials related to the most recently revised TEKS for which a proclamation was issued.
3. Open Education Resource (OER) instructional materials.
4. Highest market share based on the most recent TEKS certification and allotment spend data.
5. Voluntary publisher submissions, including:
6. First year for IMRA rubric in a subject/grade level
7. Materials related to recently revised TEKS.  
8. District submissions.

TEA notifies publishers selected for review and begins the onboarding process. 

Phase 3: Instructional Materials Review

Each program selected for review in the IMRA Cycle 2026 will be subject to the following reviews: