More than 300 school districts and charter schools in Texas have indicated plans to use a state-developed reading and language arts curriculum that includes religious references, according to data obtained by The Texas Tribune. This new curriculum, known as Bluebonnet, was narrowly approved by the Republican-controlled State Board of Education in November.The data shows that roughly 1 in 4 of Texas’ 1,207 districts and charters have signed up to use at least some part of the Bluebonnet curriculum. As of late June, about 595 districts had opted in for portions of the curriculum, and 317 had chosen to adopt its reading component, which includes Christian and Bible-related references.Funding incentives and compliance pressures influence decisionsMany districts choosing to use the Bluebonnet curriculum cited funding incentives, alignment with state academic standards, and compliance with standardised testing requirements as key reasons for adoption. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers an incentive of $60 per student for schools using the curriculum, which can help cover printing and resource costs.Stacey Brister, superintendent of the Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district in Southeast Texas, stated the decision was based on financial constraints. “We struggle financially to meet the needs of our people,” Brister said, as quoted by the Associated Press. “If they’re going to give you additional monies to buy resources that you might not be able to have, then you have to take a serious look at stuff like that.”TEA officials told The Texas Tribune that districts using state-approved instructional materials are supported with resources aligned to Texas education standards and based on cognitive science. TEA spokesperson Jake Kobersky said, “Evidence clearly indicates that high-quality instructional materials lead to increased learning for students and, ultimately, success in the classroom and beyond,” as reported by the Associated Press.Religious content draws scrutiny, but adoption continuesAlthough Bluebonnet includes biblical references, many districts clarified that religion was not a factor in their decision. The curriculum, developed from a previously used programme by the New York-based publisher Amplify, was revised after the state awarded an $84 million contract to another company. Amplify’s original version did not contain any religious materials.The curriculum’s religious elements have drawn criticism from civil liberties and advocacy groups. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas issued a warning to districts, stating that use of the reading materials may “unlawfully impose a set of religious beliefs upon your students,” and could violate constitutional protections, according to a letter obtained by the Associated Press.Examples of the curriculum include an activity where students memorise the biblical order of creation and a reading lesson that presents Founding Fathers as opposing slavery without mentioning that they enslaved people.Regional adoption varies across the stateAdoption of the reading curriculum is highest in Kilgore, Amarillo, and Victoria regions, while areas such as Austin, El Paso, and Beaumont reported lower uptake. Some schools are still deciding whether to adopt the curriculum, taking a cautious “wait-and-see” approach.“We wouldn’t expect universal uptake within the first few years for any kind of massive shift in policy like this,” said Mary Lynn Pruneda, director of education and workforce policy for Texas 2036, as quoted by the Associated Press.Curriculum quality concerns from some districtsSome districts and charter schools, including Keene ISD and Austin Achieve Public Schools, decided against using the reading portion. Sandy Denning of Keene ISD said Bluebonnet did not meet the district’s academic expectations, citing issues with overall rigour.Mackee Mason, chief academic officer at Austin Achieve, echoed similar concerns, noting that the curriculum lacked effective phonics instruction and did not follow the science of reading. “If it had some things that were a little ‘meh,’ but it was super rigorous, alright, cool. Let’s adopt that and see how we do it,” Mason said, as quoted by the Associated Press. “But you’re doing that, and it’s not rigorous enough? We’re not going to go that direction.”Schools balancing alignment and inclusionSome educators say they are reviewing the material to ensure that all students feel represented. Jessica Parker, curriculum director for Irion County ISD, stated that while the curriculum supports alignment with state standards, teachers are encouraged to inform parents and adjust content as needed. “We don’t want to cut things out,” Parker said, “but we will if it is what’s absolutely necessary,” as reported by the Associated Press.While Bluebonnet is available free of cost, its use is optional. For now, most Texas schools have chosen not to implement its reading portion.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
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