Setting the Record Straight
Recently a group called Families Engaged, which is just Lynn Davenport and Mary Lowe (both talking
Empowering Texas Classrooms with High-Quality Resources
What is Bluebonnet?
Bluebonnet Learning provides Open Educational Resources (OER) that are:
TEKS Compliant
Bluebonnet is fully aligned with Texas state standards.
Free & Accessible
Available at no cost for public, private, and homeschool families.
Classical & Rigorous
Focuses on phonics, math facts, and classic literature to challenge students.
Teacher-Friendly
Includes ready-to-go lesson plans, pacing guides, and family support resources to reduce teacher workload
Adaptable
Flexible for various educational settings, from large public schools to small private schools and homeschools.
Bluebonnet isn’t just a textbook—it’s a comprehensive toolkit of dynamic, state-approved, adaptable, and free materials that help both teachers and students thrive.
Subscribe for Updates
Bluebonnet is the Future of Texas Education
01 A New Era in Instructional Materials
Bluebonnet Learning offers an OER-based curriculum that tackles Texas schools’ challenges by providing free, TEKS-aligned resources for teachers, schools, and homeschoolers. It reduces teacher burdens while delivering engaging, academically rigorous content. Using OER, Bluebonnet allows teachers to create dynamic classrooms without the high costs of traditional textbooks.
02 What Has Changed?
Texas schools face challenges like budget cuts, teacher shortages, and declining test scores. Traditional textbooks are expensive and not always aligned with modern needs.
Bluebonnet provides the engaging, challenging content students need with no cost to schools or homeschool families.
03 What Bluebonnet is not
Bluebonnet isn’t just another textbook publisher or a digital-only program. It’s flexible, adaptable, and print-friendly, offering OER materials approved by TEA but modifiable to fit local needs.
As a print-based curriculum, bluebonnet minimizes screen time and creates a balanced learning experiencee while remaining 100% compliant with Texas standards.
04 Why Bluebonnet Works for Texas Students
Texas students are struggling—only 52% passed Reading/English, and just 54% passed Math. Parents and teachers know something needs to change. Schools need more than just another expensive textbook or screen-based program. They need a curriculum that actually works, supports teachers, and reinforces the values Texas families believe in.
Bluebonnet provides a TEKS-aligned curriculum designed for Texas classrooms. It meets state standards while keeping learning engaging and effective. Unlike many programs, Bluebonnet respects Texas values, incorporating time-tested materials that align with the Texas Informed Patriotism Act.
Teachers don’t need more paperwork or complicated lesson plans. Bluebonnet’s “Open-and-Go” materials make it easy to step into the classroom and start teaching. And because it’s free for all schools, including homeschool families, every Texas student has access to a high-quality education without the high price tag.
Bluebonnet gives teachers the tools they need and students the strong foundation they deserve—without the barriers of cost or complexity.
Bluebonnet’s Key Features
Enhancing Transparency and Quality in Instructional Materials
- 100% aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
- Rigorous content that keeps students engaged while pushing them to think deeper and grow.
- Prohibits three-cueing in early literacy.
- Parents have access to curricular materials through a parent portal. Each unit will include a letter to the parents outlining what their child will be learning. This aims to provide greater transparency for parents.
- The Bluebonnet curriculum features detailed lesson plans for teachers. This reduces their workload, tackling one of the main concerns voiced by educators.
Rooted in Truth and Texas Values
- Uses a Classical approach and built on proven methods like phonics, math facts, cursive, and great literature to give students a strong foundation.
- Rooted in Texas values , Bluebonnet follows the Texas Informed Patriotism Act and uses the Bible to teach history, literature, law, and ethics.
- Bluebonnet provides all the components of full-subject Tier 1 instructional materials.
Examples of Bluebonnet we would like to highlight:
- Kinder Skills- Unit 4- Phonics
- Grade 2 Skills- Teacher guide, Unit Introduction, page 17- Cursive
- Kinder- Unit 7- Serving our neighbors, Teacher Guide, Lesson 1: Helping our Neighbors- page 17
- Kinder- Unit 7, Lesson 6: The Good Samaritan, page 89
- Grade 5- Unit- Student Reader, Chapter 2: Letters from Birmingham Jail- Junteenth- Selected Excerpts from “Letters from Birmingham Jail”
- Grade 4- Unit 10- Novel Study: Number the Stars- Teacher’s Guide, Unit Introduction, page 1
- Grade 3- Unit 9- Colonial America- Teacher’s Guide, Lesson 9: Giving Thanks, page 218
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bluebonnet is primarily a print-based curriculum, designed to reduce screen time while keeping learning engaging and effective.
There is a lot of intentional misinformation regarding Amplify and the TEA OER. Some go as far as to label them the same thing. They are not. In fact, Amplify has nothing to do with the TEA OER.
Several years ago the TEA obtained all rights to the intellectual property of the Amplify Texas curriculum. This curriculum was used as a reference in creating the new TEA OER, however, TEA’s OER curriculum is materially different than any curriculum Amplify publishes.
Some ISD’s in Texas have contracts with Amplify or buy some of Amplifys curriculum. This should not be confused with the TEA, who does not have any contracts with the Amplify nor is Amplify a vendor in any way to the TEA. Anyone suggesting differently should be summarily dismissed.
Bluebonnet Learning is a set of instructional material which includes student handbooks, teachers guides, and other supplemental resources which are free to use. They are designed to be printed and used in a physical book medium. Any public school, private school, or homeschool can use the materials. There are no licensing fees or any other fees, only the cost to print them.
Liberty University, who has it’s own OER, defines OER as: “Open Educational Resources (OER) are "teaching, learning, and research materials in any medium, digital or otherwise, that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation, and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions" Open Textbooks are free or low-cost substitutes for a traditional textbook.”
Another way of putting it is: what “open source” is to software “Open Education Resource” (OER) is to instructional materials. Educational materials which anyone can use free of charge.
Implying that because UNESCO once used the term in their Paris Declaration in 2012, that they own the term is silly. UNESCO has nothing to do with the TEA’s OER. Period.
No, only the Texas Education Agency (TEA) can modify the materials to ensure they remain high-quality, TEKS-aligned, and appropriate for Texas classrooms.
Latest News, Blog & Articles
Why is Bluebonnet Good for Texas Schools?
Before the passing of Texas Senate Bill 6 in 2011, the State Board of Education was