The State Board of Education recently gave approval to Bluebonnet Learning, a suite of state-developed instructional materials designed to improve student learning outcomes. The public can view these materials on the Texas Education Agency’s website. The development of these resources and public access to them was required by the Texas legislature through House Bill 1605. Bluebonnet Learning materials cover 100% of the state’s learning standards (the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS).
There is some controversy surrounding Bluebonnet Learning, principally revolving around the incorporation of certain biblical references in the materials, including the Golden Rule and the story of the Good Samaritan. State curriculum developers have defended the inclusion of such passages as important for a thorough education in cultural literacy. They argue that certain passages from the Bible have become ingrained in American culture, and that there is value in allowing kids of all faith backgrounds to be familiarized with them during their schooling in Texas.
Abilene ISD educators have visited campuses in other school districts where Bluebonnet Learning is in use and have brought back their impressions to their colleagues. In addition, selected AISD educators have had access to the materials locally through a limited pilot program. In general, our educators have had favorable feedback about the high quality of Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials. After reviewing multiple options for high-quality instructional materials, the district’s educator committee has now recommended that AISD move forward with the adoption of Bluebonnet Learning.
A decision on whether to adopt Bluebonnet Learning in AISD will be made by our Board of Trustees. Based on feedback from our teachers, my plan is to also recommend adoption of these instructional materials. Abilene ISD is proud to offer a high-quality, TEKS-aligned education to kids from a wide variety of faith backgrounds. There will be no requirement that AISD teachers use every single passage found in Bluebonnet Learning, biblical or otherwise, in their classrooms. No matter which instructional materials are ultimately selected for AISD, our teachers will continue to have ample opportunities for collaborative input on lesson design.
For more information about Bluebonnet Learning, click here to read FAQs from the Texas Education Agency.
Dr. John Kuhn
Abilene ISD Superintendent of Schools