BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1567
88R10328 CXP-D	By: Campbell
	Education
	4/17/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Today, approximately 80 percent of schools across the United States are using e-books or digital books in the classroom, which proves that printed textbooks are starting to become a thing of the past. While it is true that some students prefer and even excel at digital learning, there are many students who struggle with learning from a screen. Several organizations back-up this claim with study results indicating that students comprehend at a higher level when using printed instructional materials/textbooks over e-books/digital textbooks. Studies have also shown that it is less disruptive to turn a page than to scroll down on a tablet or a screen, so concentration level is higher with text. Printed textbooks also allow for greater engagement with the material.  Additionally, breaking or losing school-issued iPads can be costly, which may put a financial strain on some Texas families.

For the various  reasons listed above, students should have free access to physical instructional materials/textbooks instead of just loose-leaf printed items by lessons or chapters. This will give students the ability to flip back-and-forth between chapters or lessons for studying purposes and reading comprehension. Some teachers may also prefer using a printed book over an e-book for lesson planning and classroom instruction. 

S.B. 1567 requires every public school to maintain a minimum amount of instructional materials (textbooks) in the classroom and library.

The Bill:

� Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 31.107 requiring physical copies of instructional material.

� Classrooms are required to maintain one copy of instructional material and libraries must maintain instructional materials (for each subject) equal to five percent of the total number of students per grade.

� School districts are required to give each teacher one copy of the teacher version of the instruction material.

As proposed, S.B. 1567 amends current law relating to requiring public schools to maintain physical copies of certain instructional materials.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Education Code, by adding Section 31.107, as follows:

Sec. 31.107. REQUIRED PHYSICAL COPIES OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Requires the board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each open-enrollment charter school, for each instructional material selected by the district or school for a subject in the foundation or enrichment curriculum, to:

(1) make available at least one physical copy of the instructional material in each classroom in which the instructional material is used;

(2) provide to each teacher at a district or school who uses the instructional material in teaching a course a physical copy of the teacher version of the instructional material, if available; and

(3) maintain in the school library at each district or school campus at which the instructional material is used a number of physical copies of the instructional material at least equal to five percent of the total number of students in the grade level in which the instructional material is used.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.