Bill > SB1481

This bill makes several changes to the instructional materials and technology allotment, open education resource instructional materials, and the State Board of Education long-range technology plan in Texas. Key provisions include: - Expanding the definition of "instructional material" to include "open education resource" materials, which are teaching, learning, and research resources that are freely available for use, reuse, modification, and sharing. - Allowing school districts to use their instructional materials and technology allotment to purchase open education resource materials. - Requiring the State Board of Education to consider a school district's technology needs when reviewing and adopting instructional materials, and to include information about cost savings from open education resource materials during the adoption cycle. - Authorizing the Commissioner of Education to purchase state-developed open education resource instructional materials through a competitive process, and requiring school districts to be able to access and use these materials without additional charge. - Updating the requirement for the State Board of Education to update the long-range technology plan at least every five years.