San Angelo ISD to adopt Bluebonnet Learning curriculum
After a two-hour-long discussion at a school board meeting on March 10, SAISD board members approved Bluebonnet Learning. Board members approved the reading and language arts program for kindergarten through fifth grade in a 4-3 vote. The board also approved the math program for kindergarten through eighth grade in a 6-1 vote.
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During the discussion, board members heard from 15 citizens who expressed their feelings about the state of Texas' new Bluebonnet Learning.
One resident shared that the curriculum includes instruction in biblical stories. Is it alleged that the stories have been 'selected and edited in such a way to draw conclusions from one point of view in a way to biblical scholars would not agree with' she shared.
'I am a Christian myself but I really don't want Christianity to be taught in the schools,' she said. 'I especially don't want this version of Christianity, Christian Nationalism, taught as excepted fact any more than I would want the teachings of Roman Catholicism or Sharia Law presented as fact.'
SAISD administrators see the state-approved program as the best solution to current lessons that do not meet state testing requirements.
'This fall we will be using this curriculum to teach our students but again, I want to reemphasize our teachers are the magic bullet and we can use a curriculum from A to Z but if we don't have great teachers in the classroom, our kids are not going to learn,' said SAISD Superintendent Dr. Christopher Moran. 'We are thrilled that are giving our teachers resources, training and support so they can do their jobs.'
'Not sustainable': SAISD superintendent suggests closing three elementary schools
According to the Texas Education Agency, Bluebonnet Learning is an Open Education Resource that provides 'high-quality instructional materials'. These materials are textbooks that are owned by the state. This allows the state to modify the textbooks over time to improve them for students and teachers. Learning materials are developed based on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS.
While TEA shared that Bluebonnet Learning materials do not include religious instruction, however, the agency also stated that the state law requires the curriculum to include 'Religious literature, including Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on history and literature'.
Board members will meet in the future to further discuss how the math and reading programs will be implemented, though it is expected to begin in fall 2025.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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