Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Request for Reviewers to Evaluate Instructional Materials in English Language Arts and English Language Development for Transitional Kindergarten Through Grade Eight

I am requesting your assistance in recruiting individuals to participate in the evaluation of instructional materials for the 2026 English Language Arts (ELA) and English Language Development (ELD) Follow-up Adoption of Instructional Materials for transitional kindergarten through grade eight (TK–8). This adoption is based on the California Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects (CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy) and the California English Language Development Standards (CA ELD Standards).

We are currently accepting applications for the following types of reviewers:

• Content Review Experts (CREs): These reviewers are recognized content experts who hold a master’s degree or higher and five or more years of experience with and expertise in standards-based educational programs and practices, or a doctoral degree. Additional qualifications for CREs can and should include expertise in evidence-based means of teaching language and literacy; foundational skills such as print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, and fluency; and integrated reading and writing.
  
  
• Instructional Materials Reviewers (IMRs): These reviewers are mostly teachers who teach students in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or grades one through twelve; have a professional credential under California law; and have experience with and expertise in standards-based educational programs and practices in ELA, literacy, ELD, and bilingual and/or multilingual education. Teachers with these qualifications who also have extensive experience teaching multilingual learners and students with disabilities are particularly needed. Other IMRs may be administrators, parents, local school board members, teachers not described above, and members of the public.

In addition to ensuring that TK–8 instructional materials have been carefully and thoroughly evaluated against the standards and criteria adopted by the State Board of Education, reviewers gain a deep understanding of the adoption process and the academic content of several programs. This professional development experience benefits both the participant and their school district or organization.

The online application and additional information are available on the California Department of Education’s Instructional Materials web page. Qualified applicants may submit their applications online beginning in August 2025. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is October 30, 2025.

I encourage you to help us recruit qualified applicants for these important panels. Please distribute the application link to all qualified candidates in your schools or organizations who might be interested in serving on these panels.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Kyle Petty, Lead Consultant, Standards and Curricular Guidance Unit, at 916-323-2202 or kpetty@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Signed by

Dr. Ingrid Roberson
Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction

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