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Texas Board Narrowly Approves Optional 'Bluebonnet Learning' Bible-Based Curriculum

Nov 22, 2024, 07:30 PM

The Texas State Board of Education has approved an optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools, voting 8-7 along party lines with only Republican members in favor. The curriculum, known as 'Bluebonnet Learning,' incorporates Bible stories, including Jesus's Sermon on the Mount and the Last Supper, into reading and language arts textbooks for kindergarten through fifth grade. While schools are not required to adopt the curriculum, they will receive additional funding of approximately $60 per student if they do so. The decision has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the curriculum may violate the separation of church and state and undermine religious freedom. Supporters, including Governor Greg Abbott, assert that the materials will help students better understand American history and culture. The new lessons could be introduced as early as the next school year, with individual school districts deciding whether to implement them.