Conroe ISD trustees hear SBOE member, staff and parents debate Bluebonnet reading curriculum and rollout options

Conroe Independent School District trustees spent more than two hours on Jan. 7 reviewing two state-approved K–5 English language arts options and the district’s path for possible adoption.

The board heard from State Board of Education member Dr. Audrey Young and Conroe ISD curriculum staff about Bluebonnet Learning (a Texified version of Amplify) and another publisher on the state High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) list. Dr. Young described pilot results in other Texas districts and said, “I would not have voted yes for it if I didn't believe in this product.”

Why it matters: the state’s HQIM process and recent legislation (HB 1605) created new funding and rules for district adoptions, including a $40-per-student allotment for approved materials and an additional $20-per-student OER (open education resource) allotment for titles that qualify. Trustees, curriculum staff and parents pressed on three practical questions: whether the texts contain religious material presented as religion rather than literature; whether bilingual/Spanish editions will be available and funded; and what diagnostic assessments the district should use to match instruction to student needs.

Discussion and key details - Religious content: During public comment Lynn Greaves told trustees, “Please don't adopt the Bluebonnet curriculum. It's just injecting religion into places it doesn't need to be.” Dr. Lynn Walters, a retired teacher, told the board she believes “religion belongs in the Sunday schools, and religious stories have no place in children's readers.” Board members and Dr. Young…