Bluebonnet Learning: An Overview of Texas' State-Developed Curriculum

Bluebonnet Learning represents a significant initiative by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide school districts with state-developed, high-quality instructional materials. These materials, designed as open education resources (OER), aim to align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and support student success across various subjects.

Core Principles and Development

Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials are developed using the latest cognitive science. This approach ensures that the curriculum is designed to maximize student learning and retention. Covering 100% of the TEKS, the curriculum provides a comprehensive suite of resources. These resources include a scope and sequence, daily lesson plans, and student materials.

Curriculum Components and Availability

The Bluebonnet Learning curriculum is available in print through approved vendors. School systems can procure these materials through requisitions in the EMAT system, which also allows them to access specific funding entitlements.The curriculum includes:

K-5 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)
K-5 Math: Founded on Eureka Math TEKS Edition, this curriculum is designed to empower teachers and students to build their mathematical knowledge. It emphasizes rigorous instruction and conceptual understanding.
Secondary Mathematics

In addition to English materials, the TEA will submit Spanish instructional materials, entitled Aprendizaje Bluebonnet, to IMRA Cycle 2025. These materials align with the English versions of Bluebonnet Learning K-5 Math and Bluebonnet Learning K-5 RLA.

Digital Resources and Data Privacy

Bluebonnet Learning Edition 1 instructional materials include a digital component accessible to teachers for viewing lesson plans and related content. No student-level data is captured digitally. Digital versions of student content are limited to PDFs suitable for display on student laptops. The TEA emphasizes that printed versions of the material are preferable for learning.

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The TEA has robust protections in place to guard confidential student data. All digital learning products used in schools, including Bluebonnet Learning, must comply with federal and state student privacy laws, including §1232g, Texas Education Code §32 Subchapter D, Texas Government Code §552.114, and §2054. Any digital learning materials made available to school systems by TEA must meet high standards of data privacy and cybersecurity enforced by contract terms and conditions by TEA.

Adoption and Implementation

As of late June, approximately 595 districts and charters had signed up to use at least some parts of the curriculum, with about 317 indicating they would use the reading lessons. Adoption of the reading curriculum was most prevalent in the Kilgore, Amarillo, and Victoria regions, and least prevalent around Beaumont, Austin, and El Paso.

To support the implementation of Bluebonnet Learning, the TEA provides resources for districts and classrooms, including lesson slides, math content support videos, and unit/module snapshots. These resources are provided on a rolling basis in preparation for the 2025-26 school year.

Districts adopting Bluebonnet Learning are required to adopt transition plans, maintained locally and approved by the local Board of Trustees before the start of the academic school year. While these plans do not need to be submitted, they could be requested for review by the commissioner.

Funding and Incentives

Bluebonnet Learning is free to use, and the state offers an incentive of $60 per student to districts that choose to use it. This funding can help cover printing costs and other implementation expenses.

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Rationale for Adoption

Many districts choose to adopt Bluebonnet Learning for several reasons:

Financial Support: The additional funding districts qualify for when they opt in.
Alignment with State Standards: Aligning their instruction with what the state expects children to learn.
Accountability: Avoiding punitive measures from the state if students do not perform up to par on Texas’ standardized exams.
Curriculum Quality: The belief that the curriculum is aligned with state requirements and based on sound cognitive science.

Controversies and Criticisms

The Bluebonnet Learning curriculum has faced scrutiny and sparked controversy, particularly regarding its reading materials.

Religious Content: Concerns were raised that the reading lessons favored Christianity over other faith traditions. Some critics worried that the materials inappropriately prioritized preaching over teaching and would isolate some students.
Historical Accuracy: Concerns were raised that the reading materials watered down America’s history of civil rights, racism, and slavery. For example, one lesson instructed teachers to tell students that Founding Fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson “realized that slavery was wrong and founded the country so that Americans could be free,” without mentioning they enslaved people.

In response to these criticisms, TEA officials emphasize that the curriculum covers a broad range of faiths and only makes references to religion when appropriate. They also state that the curriculum offers students an in-depth, age-appropriate understanding of the abolition of slavery, events like Juneteenth and the Civil Rights Movement, and the contributions of Black Texans.

District Perspectives

District perspectives on Bluebonnet Learning vary. Some districts appreciate the funding and alignment with state requirements, while others have reservations about the curriculum's rigor or content.

Some districts reported that the religious components did not factor into their decision to use the reading materials.
Some districts may choose to ignore any chapters that reference Christianity and other religions. Or they could choose to heavily lean on the biblical lessons while using another curriculum for other teachings.
Some districts may cut things out in order to avoid trying to portray that they fall in a certain religious line or they fall in a certain political line.
Some districts feel that Bluebonnet’s reading materials currently do not meet the level of rigor the district wants.

Addressing Misconceptions and Ensuring Accuracy

The TEA aims to ensure that the curriculum offers students an in-depth, age-appropriate understanding of historical events and diverse perspectives. The agency emphasizes that the curriculum aligns with state standards and is built based on the best cognitive science.

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