Bluebonnet Learning, formerly Texas Amplify, is supposed to be a return to classical education. However, closer inspection reveals significant issues with not only the digital nature but also the content and approach raises red flags with educators and parents. This curriculum is not age-appropriate content and is full of DEI and Common Core. Amplify was not successful at the pilot schools that used it. The TEA will incentivize schools to adopt this curriculum through financial rewards rather than prioritizing high-quality, evidence-based educational resources. The State Board of Education must reject this curriculum.
Not Age Appropriate
The curriculum introduces complex and heavy subjects like slavery and war at a very young age. Unit 10, Lesson 6 for Kindergarten, goes in-depth on slavery and even touches on the Civil War.
The parent letter for the unit does not tell parents that their child will be discussing slavery in this unit.
Another example is in Unit 7 for 2nd grade. This unit goes in-depth into the civil war for the Language Arts unit.
Here is another example from the Kindergarten Unit 6 Activity Book (left) compared to an age appropriate activity (right):
DEI and Common Core
Approximately 70% of Bluebonnet Learning's content is identical to the Amplify curriculum, which incorporates DEI and Common Core. Texas law prohibits the use of Common Core and DEI.
Here are a few side-by-side comparisons of the two curriculums, showing that in a lot of cases, the content is identical. Amplify (left) and Bluebonnet Learning (right)
In 2nd grade, Unit 10, Fighting For A Cause, children are asked to not only understand discrimination and the civil rights guaranteed by the US but also what it means to fight for a cause in this Language Arts Unit.
This curriculum blurs the line between education and advocacy, introducing complex societal topics to young children.
Failed in Pilot Schools
Data from schools that used the Amplify curriculum shows that this program failed to achieve the intended results.
This linked Google Sheet shows data from the pilot schools in Texas under the Data Amplify Piloted Scores Tab: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Vjuu8AYy1vu2LH6NHci2ItQfJeHgxyCxt00GIj6DMAI/edit?gid=158389266#gid=158389266
This failure could be partly due to the unproven Amplify method for teaching phonics, which is vastly different from the current state standard. Kindergarten students would no longer be introduced to the names of the letters first. Instead, parents and teachers would be instructed to refer to the letters by their sounds.
From the Teacher's Guide Kindergarten Foundational Skill 1 Page 163
Children also start with flip books that only contain pictures to look at as the teacher reads the story aloud to them rather than be exposed to the actual written words.
Kindergarten Unit 8: Kings and Queens Flip Book
Combined with long, in-depth stories on complex and heavy topics, children will quickly be disengaged from learning.
Undermines Local Control
The state will use monetary incentives to encourage schools to implement it instead of focusing on quality, evidence-based educational materials. This will shift decision-making away from local communities, undermining input from parents, educators, and local community leaders.
Call To Action
Contact the SBOE members and tell them to reject this curriculum.