East Texas school district approves new controversial state learning materials
NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) – Nacogdoches ISD has approved new state-created teaching materials for their elementary schools. The lessons were approved last fall by the state board of education and have been criticized for focusing too much on the Bible.
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'It's the way best for us to move forward,' Nacogdoches ISD Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Les Linebarger said.
Starting next fall, Nacogdoches ISD elementary schools will use the state's new Bluebonnet Learning instructional material. The Texas Education Agency said the lessons were developed using the best evidence on how to teach reading and math.
Critics have said it's a state-written curriculum that overemphasizes Christianity and could isolate some children.
'I use the phrase all-encompassing,' Linebarger said. 'I mean, these materials cover the whole run of what takes place in the classroom and it really frees the teacher up then to work on how best to deliver that information to our students.'
The lessons were created by the state and are now available online for educators to use.
'It'll free up our teachers to worry about what's most important in the classroom, how best to pass along these lessons to the students,' Linebarger said.
School districts don't have to use it, but they will receive $60 per student if they do. Lufkin ISD did not put it up for vote, but discussed adopting the materials and possible benefits for teachers.
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'It provides them with every piece of material they would need to teach their lesson so they would not have to pull from this resource or this resource or create on their own time,' Assistant Superintendent of Education Services and Accountability for Lufkin ISD Shelly Slaton said.
The district decided to not move forward with the vote on Bluebonnet Learning after hearing community feedback and concerns.
'There are some lessons that include stories from the bible, but also from the other world religions as well,' Linebarger said.
Nacogdoches will implement these learning materials starting this fall for math and language arts.
'We feel like there's a lot of positives in this, these instructional materials,' Linebarger said.
Governor Greg Abbott called Bluebonnet Learning a 'critical step forward.' The TEA said there is no religious instruction in the lessons.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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