About

SIMRA, the State Instructional Materials Review Association, is dedicated to the process of thorough and ongoing review of instructional materials that assures alignment of content to state standards, accessibility for use by all students, and quality pedagogy as determined by established criteria. Nineteen representatives of member states facilitate the evaluation of instructional materials by committees of teachers, administrators, educational professionals, and other stakeholder groups.

Members of the association collaborate and share resources frequently to continually improve the review process and provide for fair and systematic reviews of materials. The organization has a long history of maintaining high standards and specifications for the manufacturing and distribution of quality instructional materials.

SIMRA vets instructional materials to achieve the following goals:

• Ensure that content is aligned to standards and objectives that lead to college and career readiness and is structured to ensure that all students meet grade-specific expectations as they develop literacy skills

• Promote universally accessible instructional resources, guaranteeing that materials are free from bias in their portrayal of racial and ethnic groups, gender, age, disabilities, cultures, religion, etc., and contain accommodations for students with multiple learning styles, exceptionalities, and language and cultural differences

• Ensure that resource are durable and of high quality in physical and technical aspects, and are designed to promote optimal learning experiences for all students, while protecting student privacy

• Encourage pedagogical design so that materials provide tools for a balanced approach to assessment including both formative and summative assessments in multiple formats, not only to guide instruction but also to identify student mastery of content

• Encourage logical, clear organization of information using multiple methods and modes for delivering instruction that motivate students and increase literacy through high interest, authentic activities that use research-based instructional strategies. Curriculum is designed to include appropriate scaffolding, vocabulary acquisition, and opportunities to engage in high interest, age-appropriate activities that mirror real-life situations, and make cross-curricular, global connections

The instructional materials that are reviewed by SIMRA member states are properly classified as courseware, meaning that they are specifically designed to align with standards and objectives for particular courses of study. They may be designed for entire courses or produced to target specific segments of a course (supplemental materials). SIMRA members are evaluating materials that are stored online or on digital media (cds, dvds, etc.) as well as in textbook format. Product specifications are mandated in numerous states, and some currently require that all publisher samples be submitted in digital format for review.

The careful review of instructional materials review is essential to support high level educational experiences and academic rigor. SIMRA is uniquely positioned to provide meaningful service to educators to help them sift through the vast number of available teaching and learning resources. Both state-adoption and local-control states hold membership in SIMRA and provide guidance for local patrons in selecting materials that are aligned to state standards and objectives, are accessible to all students, and promote quality instruction.

The strategic plan for SIMRA consists of five major objectives.:

1. To foster a spirit of mutual helpfulness and cooperation among members in the evaluation, adoption, purchase, and distribution of instructional materials. This is done through

• facilitated communication through webinars on topics of common interest;

• a website for static and dynamic information for the general public and publishers that also promotes interaction among SIMRA members; and

• participation as an affiliate at the annual State Education Technology Directors Association leadership conference to inform advocate the overall mission of SIMRA and focus on issues of national concern.

2. To arrange for the continuing study and review of manufacturing specifications, aiming toward the highest quality and most durable instructional products. This is accomplished through collaboration with education professionals, publishers, and creators of instructional materials to maintain acceptable standards in both tangible and digital materials. SIMRA works together with the Association of American Publishers and the Book Manufacturer’s Institute to produce acceptable specifications for printed items.

3. To authorize special surveys, tests, and studies that could result in benefits to the various states and other adoption units in the nation. Member states contribute to

• complete and publish review schedules;

• prepare annual reports of events, accomplishments, and challenges; and

• share data about state review procedures and survey the use of instructional materials within each state.

4. To initiate action along any avenue to find the best component products for instructional materials. Efforts are made to determine areas for collaborative efforts between the states, such as contributing to a registry to allow comparison of reviews from state to state, and to organize reviews of open education resources.

5. To participate in the sharing of information to address issues of national and state concern. SIMRA promotes policy and recommendations regarding criteria to be used in the selection process. New states are recruited to broaden, enrich, and strengthen the membership base.

SIMRA has a proud history, from its evolution from the Southeastern Textbook Directors in 1946, to the National Association of Textbook Directors in 1953, to the National Association of State Textbook Administrators in 1970, and finally to the State Instructional Materials Review Association in 2012. It reflects state and national concern regarding curriculum in our country’s public education institutions. As new materials continue to be produced at an increasingly rapid pace and in new digital media platforms, SIMRA remains dedicated to ensure that the very best instructional materials are provided to the nation’s students.