In a divided vote (4-3) at its special meeting on March 10, 2025, the San Angelo Independent School District (SAISD) approved adoption of the state owned Bluebonnet Learning Curriculum.
Why the controversial curriculum was adopted cannot be separated from SAISD’s poor performance at six elementary schools.
Six Elementary Schools on Targeted Improvement Plans
SAISD has six elementary campuses on a Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP).
Those schools are:
- Alta Loma Elementary
- Austin Elementary
- Belaire Elementary
- Goliad Elementary
- Holiman Elementary
- McGill Elementary
In addition, Glenn Middle School and Lone Star Middle School are also on a TIP. Lincoln Middle School is on a Turnaround Plan. You can find the TIPs for these schools here.
Federal law requires a TIP if a school does not show improvement on its test scores over certain period of time. In Texas that is the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STARR Test)
SAISD Needs To Show STAAR Improvement
“We have to show growth on STAAR.” Board President Taylor Kingman said.
It will take 3-5 years to show the necessary growth. Some campuses could get off in year three, Kingman said.
In Kingman’s view the best way to show improvement is to align our curriculum as closely as possible with what the state will be grading us on. The state has now created their own curriculum (Bluebonnet) which is perfectly aligned with those requirements.
Under those circumstances, “Why wouldn’t we use that?” Kingman asked.
While he understands the criticisms that it may not instill a love of reading, the goal of the curriculum is to teach kids to read not a love of reading. That comes later and involves both parents and teachers.
Facing Reality
The issue for Kingman at the meeting where the Board adopted the curriculum was that,
“Right now we are not an A district as far as the state classification. And whether we believe that students should be graded on one test or not, the reality is the state has created a curriculum and then they are going to score us on a test that decides on how they are going to rank us for our community.
“We don’t have to think that is fair, we don’t have to think that is right, but that is the reality of how the state is going to do this.”
“For me the fact of the matter is we have seven campuses with improvement plans right now. And we are going to ask our teachers to not be given the key to the test as far as what curriculum the state is approving.”
Kingman also said it was “likely, and almost assuredly that some of this curriculum would not be adopted locally.” Dr. Farrah Gomez Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer concurred. But Kingman continued, “the reality is that we have to trust teachers with their craft.”
Kingman insisted that the District is working diligently to address the concerns about the most controversial areas in the curriculum. While the vote to adopt the curriculum was a split, the Board is united in the goal of transitioning to the new curriculum effectively, and improving test scores.
There are some positive indicators that the District is going in the right direction, according to Kingman. The Middle Of Year Academic Performance Report will be presented to the School Board at this week’s meeting.
2 Comments
Do you have a list of districts who have adopted the Bluebonnet Learning Phonics Learning curriculum? If they didn’t, Do you know which program they selected?
WE are not aware of the existence of a comprehensive list of districts that have adopted Bluebonnet.