Texas education board considers new curriculum that includes Bible teachings

The Texas Education Agency, or TEA, on Tuesday was set to hold a preliminary vote on whether to approve a new elementary school curriculum that is part of the state-owned Bluebonnet Learning resource. The proposed reading and English language arts materials include lessons from the Bible. One kindergarten lesson prompts teachers to use Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to instruct students about the “Golden Rule”. The lesson guide mentions other religions as well, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. The curriculum also focuses on the book of Genesis in a lesson about art appreciation, and incorporates individual psalms into a fifth grade poetry unit.

The board on Monday heard testimony from both teachers and parents who support and  are opposed to the new curriculum. More people were scheduled to testify Tuesday ahead of the preliminary vote. The final vote is scheduled for Friday.

How were the materials created? A recently passed state house bill directed the TEA to develop a set of state-owned textbooks to improve student academic outcomes. Officials in May released the first version of the instructional materials that included reading and language arts and mathematics curriculum aligned with state standards. The TEA in October released updates to the program, known as Bluebonnet Learning, following public comment and feedback from teachers and parents.

If approved, the materials will be available for public schools to use beginning in August 2025. School districts will not be required to use the curriculum but schools can earn $40 per student per year for adopting the resource.

How have people responded to the curriculum? The Texas AFT teacher’s union has said the materials violate the separation of church and state, and academic freedom. The union on Monday called for the board to reject the curriculum. Meanwhile, David Brockman of the Baker Institute criticized the materials for overemphasizing Christianity and limiting coverage of other religions. Brockman is an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University.

Conversely, the conservative group Texas Values threw its support behind the materials and Gov. Greg Abbott in May backed the curriculum. In an interview with Ben Carson, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath said the curriculum was developed with evidence from cognitive science and emphasized the importance of incorporating classical literature into education.

Dig deeper: Listen to Kim Henderson’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about how Louisiana lawmakers carefully crafted the Ten Commandments law with the First Amendment in mind.