Clear Timeline Needed for New Literary Works List

The State Board of Education (SBOE) has proposed new literary works lists — grade-by-grade lists of the books and other literary works that Texas students will be required to read as part of the English language arts curriculum. The lists trace back to House Bill 1605 (2023), which directed the SBOE to specify required vocabulary and at least one literary work to be taught in each grade level. The Board's proposed lists go well beyond that, setting multiple required works at each grade.  View the lists here.  

Adopting these lists will require significant planning and purchasing decisions by districts. On June 15, 2026, TASB Governmental Relations submitted public comments on the proposed rules asking the Board to make the timing explicit. As proposed, the new sections are silent on when the requirements take effect, so TASB asked the Board to add an explicit implementation provision to each affected section stating that the literary works requirements apply no sooner than the 2030–31 school year — and that, before that year, neither districts and charter schools nor their students bear any obligation under the new sections. 

The lists also arrive without new dedicated state funding. The SBOE's fiscal note for the proposal acknowledges "no additional costs to state government," while noting that buying the required literary works will fall to school districts and charter schools.  

We'll keep members posted as further details emerge. 

June 26, 2026 Update

During their June meeting, the SBOE adopted amended language setting a phased implementation beginning with the 2030-31 school year.