Overview:
If approved, the state will offer $60 per student to districts adopting Bluebonnet Learning, a potential draw for financially struggling schools.
In an 8-7 decision, the Texas State Board of Education indicated preliminary support for Bluebonnet Learning, a state-authored elementary school curriculum that has drawn scrutiny for its prominent inclusion of biblical teachings. The board is set to vote officially on the matter this Friday.
On Tuesday, eight of the 15 board members expressed their preliminary approval of the curriculum designed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) earlier this year. Before the final vote, the TEA has until late Wednesday to revise the materials in response to concerns raised by the board and the public. Board members retain the option to change their votes before Friday.
This comes after officials in Oklahoma spent more than $25,000 and purchased more than 500 Bibles this week for use in Advanced Placement Government classrooms.
Curriculum Design and Controversy
The Bluebonnet Learning curriculum adopts a cross-disciplinary approach, integrating reading and language arts lessons with history and social studies. However, critics, including religious studies experts, argue that it disproportionately emphasizes Christianity over other religions. Concerns about potential violations of church-state separation, the risk of alienating non-Christian students, and the historical accuracy of specific lessons have been raised.
Defenders of the curriculum assert that Christian references are essential for understanding U.S. history and cultural literacy. “These stories establish cultural literacy,” said Republican board member Will Hickman. He cited examples such as the Good Samaritan parable, which is included in a kindergarten lesson on the Golden Rule.
Critics worry about the curriculum’s impact on inclusivity and religious neutrality. Democrat Staci Childs voiced concerns over potential violations of the Establishment Clause, which prohibits government endorsement of any religion. “If this is the standard for students in Texas, it needs to be free of establishment clause issues, free of lies, and accurate,” she said.
Financial Incentives for Adoption
Texas school districts retain the autonomy to choose their own curricula. If approved, the state will offer $60 per student to districts adopting Bluebonnet Learning, a potential draw for financially struggling schools.
Divided Opinions Among Board Members
The curriculum has prompted unusual alliances among board members, with three Republicans—Evelyn Brooks, Patricia Hardy, and Pam Little—joining four Democrats in opposing the proposal.
Brooks argued that the TEA should not act as a textbook publisher, suggesting that this would create unfair competition with private companies. Though unopposed to the religious content, Hardy criticized the curriculum for being age-inappropriate and inconsistent with state standards.
Meanwhile, the curriculum’s supporters maintained that their decisions were free from political influence and based solely on what they believe will benefit Texas students.
Political Context
One critical vote came from Leslie Recine, a Republican temporarily appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to fill the District 13 seat vacated by Democrat Aicha Davis. Recine’s appointment, made shortly before the general election, has been criticized for bypassing Democrat Tiffany Clark, the newly elected representative for the district.
Public Debate
More than 100 Texans spoke for and against the curriculum at Monday’s public hearing. The proposal has fueled debate over how religion should intersect with public education and whether the state is overstepping its bounds in shaping children’s understanding of religious and historical concepts.
This Friday, the board’s final vote will determine whether the controversial Bluebonnet Learning curriculum moves forward, potentially shaping the educational landscape for years to come.