Bill > SB6

This bill fundamentally updates Texas education law by replacing the term "textbooks" with "instructional materials" throughout various sections of the Education Code, broadening the scope to include a wider range of educational content and resources. It establishes an "instructional materials allotment" for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, which are public schools that operate independently of traditional school districts, to fund the purchase of these materials and necessary technological equipment. The bill also revises the foundation curriculum to include economics with an emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits, and it modifies the adoption and review processes for instructional materials, including provisions for open-source materials and mid-cycle reviews. Furthermore, it clarifies the responsibilities of publishers and school districts regarding the provision, handling, and disposal of instructional materials, and it adjusts funding mechanisms by dedicating a portion of the permanent school fund to the state instructional materials fund.