To be considered HQIM in the state of Texas, the instructional materials must: 

• Ensure full coverage of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

• Align to the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and prekindergarten guidelines. 

• Provide evidence-based best practices in the relevant content areas of reading language arts (RLA), math, science, and social studies. 

• Support all learners, including students with disabilities, Emergent Bilinguals (EB), and students identified as gifted and talented.  

• Meet grade-level suitability requirements. 

• Be free from factual error. 

• Enable frequent progress monitoring through embedded and aligned assessments. 

• Provide teacher and student-facing lesson materials with implementation supports. 

• Follow Manufacturing Standards and Specifications for Textbooks (MSST) for physical and electronic materials. 

• Receive approval from the SBOE through the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process.

In 2024, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) approved a ten-year timeline of the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process. While this timeline can be changed by the SBOE at any time, the current schedule can be found here.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are free instructional materials available in the public domain or under a license allowing use, modification, and sharing. These include courses, textbooks, lesson modules, streaming videos, assessments, software, tools, and techniques to support learning. 

Current, available OER products include:

• Bluebonnet Learning K-5 Math

• Bluebonnet Learning K-5 Math (Spanish)

• Bluebonnet Learning Secondary Math (Grades 6-8, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)

• Bluebonnet Learning Secondary Math (Spanish) (Grade 6)

• Bluebonnet Learning K-5 Reading Language Arts

• Bluebonnet Learning K-5 Spanish Language Arts and Reading

• Bluebonnet Learning K-3 RLA Foundational Skills

• Bluebonnet Learning K-3 RLA Foundation Skills (Spanish)

All digital materials and resources will be housed at the Bluebonnet Learning Portal: bluebonnet.tea.texas.gov

Resources that can be found on the Bluebonnet Learning Portal include:

• Program implementation guides

• Course guides

• Teacher editions

• Student editions

• Module and lesson Snapshots

• Lesson slide decks

• Content support videos (math only)

Under the current IMRA timeline, secondary RLA will be included in the 2029 IMRA process for classroom availability during the 2030-31 school year.

Under the current IMRA timeline, Advanced Middle School Mathematics is scheduled to go through the 2026 IMRA process. In the meantime, the CER/OER versions will remain accessible on the Texas Gateway website and can continue to be used until the Bluebonnet versions are released. 

Yes, Bluebonnet Learning materials are compatible with LMS platforms.

Region 9 ESC will continue to support our districts regardless of the instructional materials they choose. However, the other materials will no longer be supported by the state and will not receive updates and/or edits. We encourage districts to consider moving to materials that will continue to receive updates, edits, and support. Older versions will gradually phase out and move out of active service. 

Yes. TCR will develop and support Bluebonnet Learning. The current CER OER Version 4 documents will also remain in the system through 2028, though they will receive limited annual updates. 

No. All vendors on the SBOE HQIM-approved list have already undergone the TEA’s RFP process and pricing negotiations, eliminating the need for a separate bidding process. 

This is the 2026-2027 suggested funding prioritization for Bluebonnet Learning:

1. State-Developed Open Education Resource (OER) Entitlement ($20/student, funded annually) - These funds can only be used for Bluebonnet Learning materials, and unused funds do NOT rollover. These are "use or lose" funds that are renewed yearly.

2. SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Entitlement ($40/student, funded annually) - These funds can be used for any SBOE-approved HQIM materials, and unused funds rollover to the next school year. These funds began accumulating with the 2023-24 school year.

3. Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment (IMTA) ($171/student + $16 for EB students, funded bi-annually) - This is a biennial allotment of money from the state instructional materials and technology funds to Texas public schools. IMTA funds may also be used for product training from Region 9 ESC.

*EMAT should automatically pull from these "buckets" of money in this order.

*NOTE: LASO Cycle 4/LIFT funds may NOT be used for the purchase of Bluebonnet Learning print materials.

No. Materials can be purchased for individual grade levels, for example just 3rd grade math. However, both the teacher materials and student materials (with or without manipulatives/trade books) must be purchased the first year. After the first year, you may purchase individual components.

Yes. You can complete the Certification of Provision of Instructional Materials in March or April. This process includes an inventory of the instructional materials currently used for all courses, including CTE and others. After completing the inventory, the certification must be presented to your school board for approval. Once approved, the certification must be signed by both the Superintendent and the School Board Secretary and uploaded into the EMAT system. It is strongly recommended to complete this process before EMAT closes in mid-April, allowing you to begin ordering materials immediately. Note that accessible instructional materials can be ordered at any time.

1. Confirm teacher and student quantities needed 

2. Complete Component Exemption process (if applicable) before you submit your requisition 

3. Submit Bluebonnet Learning requisition before April 15th or after May 15th 

4. Order Accessible Instructional Materials by early May 

5. Complete the Certification of Provision of Instructional Materials process by May 15th 

6. Prepare for receipt of a freight invoice 

7. Prepare to inventory materials 

Yes. The School Board must adopt instructional materials annually, with the Certification of Provision of Instructional Materials signed by the Superintendent and School Board Secretary. 

Yes, your district is required to develop an OER Transition Plan before placing any orders. While these plans will remain at the district level, they must be available for review by TEA upon request. Information on what to include in your plan can be found here. For guidance on creating your plan, please reach out to Jennifer Nash at jennifer.nash@esc9.net.