The Texas state board of education voted 8-7 on November 22, 2024, to approve Bluebonnet Learning, "a controversial public school curriculum for K-5 students that largely centers around Christianity," according to the Houston Chronicle (November 22, 2004).
Of particular concern, as NCSE previously reported, was a kindergarten unit entitled "Exploring Art" (PDF), which devotes a lesson to the creation and flood stories from Genesis. Creation stories from the ancient Maya, Aztec, and Greek cultures are mentioned but not described in detail, while four pages, including artwork, are devoted to Genesis. Moreover, students are expected to answer questions about the details of the events recounted in Genesis.
In a report (PDF) prepared for the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, David R. Brockman, a religious studies scholar and Christian theologian, wrote, "It is difficult to avoid concluding that this ... unit is being used as an excuse to smuggle in what is effectively Bible study," and noted that "kindergarteners are likely to come away ... believing that the biblical story is the creation account and that it alone is worth their attention" (emphasis in original).
The curriculum, including "Exploring Art" (PDF), was subsequently revised in response to public comments, but the concerns of its critics were not allayed. At a board meeting on November 18, 2024, Mark Chancey, a professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University, criticized the lessons dealing with religion as not only unduly emphasizing Christianity but also riddled with inaccuracies, according to the Houston Chronicle (November 19, 2024).
The Texas Freedom Network observed (November 22, 2024) that the board voted to adopt the curriculum "despite national media attention, warnings from religious studies experts, and overwhelming negative feedback from constituents," adding, "Once again, they chose politics over what's best for students, promoting an evangelical Christian religious perspective and undermining the freedom of families to direct the religious education of their own children."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued (November 22, 2024) a statement urging all Texas school districts not to adopt the curriculum, adding, "If families learn their public schools are using this curriculum, or introducing any coercive religious lessons in their classrooms, we encourage them to contact us at au.org. Our attorneys are standing by and ready to defend their religious freedom."
The Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for K-5 Reading Language Arts will be available for use in Texas's classrooms starting in the 2025-2026 school year; although there is no requirement to use the materials, there are financial incentives for doing so.
