States Requiring Third-Party Reviews
Below is an overview of states that currently have documented third-party review requirements for standards alignment. These vary in scope and terminology, but in each case external review is part of the state process.
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| State | Review Requirement | Timing / Cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | State instructional materials adoption review cycles with designated reviewer application periods and deliberations | Reviewer recruitment: mid-Jan to mid-Feb 2026; prior recruitment Aug–Oct 2025; deliberations and recommendations July–Sept adoption year | Adoption review events follow a fairly set timeline for a given subject area. |
| Florida | Statewide instructional materials adoption with appointed expert reviewers | Annual cycle: reviewers appointed by April 15 each school year; review begins no later than October | Reviewers must be state or national experts; instructional materials adoption cycle is on a periodic calendar. |
| Georgia | State board appoints committee to examine textbooks for adoption | Committee reviews materials ahead of state adoption decisions | State committee recommends textbooks to the board for adoption. |
| Indiana | High-Quality Curricular Materials Advisory Lists with third-party expert evaluation | Annual cycle; application materials released in July; advisory list published ~January each year | List updates come each year with a new cycle for submissions and list publication. |
| Kentucky | State textbook commission and appointed reviewers evaluate materials | Staggered six-year cycle with groups rotating annually | Commission selects reviewers and evaluates textbooks for adoption. |
| Mississippi | Textbook rating committees made up of teachers evaluate materials | Adoption cycles set by statute | Committees recommend textbooks to state board based on reviews. |
| New Mexico | State adopts a multiple list reviewed and recommended to districts | Adoption schedule set by state; public adoption list maintained | State board adopts a multiple list from which districts choose.(Education Commission of the States) |
| North Carolina | State textbook commission and board adopt materials after review | Adoption cycles governed by statute | Commission members evaluate and report on proposed texts for board approval. |
| Oklahoma | State textbook committee with public hearings evaluates materials | Public hearing cycle typically in October | Committee hears public testimony and evaluates materials against standards. |
| Oregon | State board reviews and adopts instructional materials using criteria | Adoption list cycles (e.g., social science 2025-33) | Materials are reviewed against criteria and formally adopted; independent local adoption permitted too. |
| Rhode Island | State supported reviews of core materials (voluntary/local decisions) | Occurred in phases through 2023–2024 (Social Studies reviews summer–winter 2023/early 2024) | Rhode Island doesn't have a formal statewide review requirement; this reflects specific recent state-supported review projects. |
| Tennessee | Textbook & Instructional Materials Quality Commission reviews materials with expert panels | Ongoing adoption cycles (next cycle Fall 2025–Fall 2026) | State advisory panels of expert teachers review materials, recommend to the commission. |
| Texas | IMRA (Instructional Materials Review and Approval) — structured state review for alignment, quality, suitability, and TEKS | Multi-year subject cycles: 2026 → review March–August 2026 with final SBOE vote November 2026 | Reviews include educator teams and third-party evaluation as part of IMRA; submissions tied to RFIM windows; public comment periods occur each cycle. |
| Virginia | Formal instructional materials and literacy program review tied to statute and board processes | Textbook & materials recommendations and approvals occur at scheduled Board meetings (e.g., Feb/Mar 2025 for math materials); literacy program review application windows (Phase I: Jan 20–Feb 3, 2026) | Virginia DOE reviews and Board of Education approvals happen at scheduled meetings annually; literacy core material review has application windows and phased reviews. |
| West Virginia | State adoption and cursory review schedule for instructional resources | Vendor cursory reviews must be submitted by ~Sept–Dec 2025; registered list available Feb 2026 | West Virginia has defined deadlines during an adoption year; county reviews follow Jan–May cycle. |