The commissioner must make open education resource instructional materials available for school districts and certain students and educators, may acquire them in several ways, and may charge only printing or shipping fees.
Sec. 31.071. AVAILABILITY OF OPEN EDUCATION RESOURCE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL. (a) The commissioner shall ensure that open education resource instructional materials are available for use by school districts in accordance with this subchapter. (b) To ensure the availability of open education resource instructional materials under Subsection (a), the commissioner may: (1) purchase a license authorizing the use of open education resource instructional materials in a manner that complies with all applicable state laws and rules relating to procurement by a state agency; (2) purchase or otherwise acquire ownership of open education resource instructional materials; (3) develop open education resource instructional materials; (4) adopt open education resource instructional materials; or (5) use any combination of the methods described by Subdivisions (1), (2), (3), and (4) to acquire open education resource instructional materials. (b-1) The commissioner may make available more than one open education resource instructional material for a subject or grade level. (b-2) The commissioner shall: (1) to the extent practicable, ensure full subject tier one instructional materials are available as open education resource instructional material for: (A) English language arts and mathematics courses in kindergarten through grade eight; (B) prekindergarten, in subject areas related to English language arts and mathematics; and (C) all foundation curriculum courses in kindergarten through grade five in a manner that permits the instruction of the content to be provided: (i) in an integrated manner; and (ii) for approximately 240 minutes of instructional time per day, including time needed each day for accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211; and (2) ensure open education resource instructional materials are available to all students, parents, classroom teachers, and school districts in this state free of charge, except for a fee for the printing or shipping of the material. (c) Except as provided by Section 31.0711, an open education resource instructional material must be licensed to this state under an intellectual property license that allows for free use, reuse, modification, or sharing with others as described by Section 31.07101. (d) The costs of administering this subchapter and ensuring the availability of open education resource instructional materials shall be paid from funds appropriated for the purpose and the state instructional materials and technology fund, as determined by the commissioner. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 679 (H.B. 2488), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2009. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 6 (S.B. 6), Sec. 41, eff. July 19, 2011. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 581 (S.B. 810), Sec. 24, eff. June 9, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 705 (H.B. 3526), Sec. 16, eff. June 12, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 942 (S.B. 1784), Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 467 (H.B. 4170), Sec. 5.017, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 818 (H.B. 1605), Sec. 28, eff. June 13, 2023.