A growing legal storm is brewing over Texas’ newly approved Bluebonnet Learning curriculum, as a coalition of prominent rights organizations sounds the alarm. With its heavy infusion of Christian teachings and biblical references, the curriculum has sparked a heated discussion over religious freedom and the fundamental separation of church and state in public education.
On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Center for Inquiry, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation issued a joint warning to Texas school leaders. In a letter to superintendents and school boards, they argued that the adoption of Bluebonnet Learning would impose religious beliefs on students, violating their constitutionally protected rights.
These organizations have made it clear that they are prepared to take legal action to safeguard the rights of Texas children and their families from what they deem religious coercion in the classroom. At the heart of the controversy is the curriculum’s potential to alienate non-Christian students and blur the lines between religion and government, a principle that has long been a cornerstone of US democracy. While the Texas Education Agency (TEA) defends the curriculum as a tool to enrich students’ understanding of history, literature, and culture, the clash raises urgent questions about the role of religion in public schools.
Bluebonnet Learning: A curriculum with Biblical overtones
Bluebonnet Learning, which was narrowly approved by the State Board of Education is set to be available for free to schools starting in the 2025-26 school year. Schools that choose to adopt it will receive a $60 per student incentive to help cover printing costs. The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, including history, literature, and social studies, but critics argue that the extensive references to Christianity – often more than to other religions – could lead to the marginalization of non-Christian students.
The letter issued by the groups as reported by Associated Press, an American news agency reads, “Our organizations, which have long fought for religious freedom for all, will closely monitor any school district across the state that considers implementing the Bluebonnet curriculum and will take any action that is necessary and appropriate to protect the rights of Texas children and their parents.”
Religious studies scholars and critics have pointed out that some lessons in the curriculum present Christianity and biblical narratives as literal truths. For instance, a fifth-grade lesson on the painting of The Last Supper is said to treat the Book of Matthew as a “literal and historical record of what happened.” Another section allegedly directs students to repeat biblical creation narratives verbatim. These elements, critics argue, suggest a proselytizing agenda that undermines the principles of religious neutrality in public education.
Supporters of the curriculum, argue that the material offers students a valuable perspective on America’s history and the significant role that Christianity and biblical texts have played in shaping the nation’s cultural and moral foundations. They assert that the curriculum incorporates references to a wide array of religious traditions and presents them in an objective, academic manner, without promoting any particular faith.
A divisive decision across the state
The Bluebonnet curriculum has already garnered interest from several school districts. The South San Antonio school district has voted to adopt the materials, while others, such as the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw district, have decided to use only the math portion, avoiding the Bible-infused reading lessons. The Denton school district has publicly rejected the curriculum, and other districts are still deliberating its adoption.
Texas school districts enjoy significant autonomy in selecting instructional materials, which allows them to choose portions of Bluebonnet Learning while disregarding others. This flexibility could lead to a patchwork of approaches across the state, further complicating the legal and ethical implications of adopting the curriculum.
Legal landscape and constitutional concerns
The ongoing controversy occurs against the backdrop of shifting legal standards concerning the separation of church and state. Legal experts suggest that these rulings have muddied the waters, making it more difficult to determine when government actions, such as the adoption of religiously infused educational materials, violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Texas Deputy Attorney General Austin Kinghorn has expressed his belief as reported by Associated Press, an American news agency that teaching about religion and the Bible in an academic and objective manner is constitutional, so long as it does not amount to proselytization. However, legal advocates for church-state separation remain adamant that Bluebonnet Learning crosses this line, particularly given the curriculum’s treatment of Christianity as a factual and central tenet of American history.
The road ahead
As the debate intensifies, the outcome will have profound implications for the future of public education in Texas and across the United States. Will Bluebonnet Learning be seen as a valuable educational tool that fosters a deeper understanding of history and religion, or will it be recognized as a violation of students’ constitutional rights, imposing religious ideology on young minds? The legal battles that lie ahead will undoubtedly shape the landscape of education and religious freedom for years to come.
With legal challenges likely on the horizon, it remains to be seen how Texas school districts will respond. The conversation surrounding Bluebonnet Learning has ignited a broader dialogue about the role of religion in public education and the need to balance educational integrity with constitutional protections.