Santa Fe ISD board adopts state‑listed Bluebonnet K–5 reading curriculum; district to spend up to $94,460

Santa Fe ISD trustees voted to adopt the Bluebonnet K–5 reading curriculum and authorized up to $94,460 for the first‑year purchase, district staff said.

Staff presented the adoption process to the board, describing how teachers reviewed two publisher proposals, piloted lessons and completed feedback forms. Presenters said the selection followed vetting criteria from House Bill 1605 and the State Board of Education’s list of approved instructional materials, including alignment to TEKS, a parent portal for content review and the absence of factual errors.

Staff also described state incentives tied to selecting a state‑listed curriculum: an additional per‑student allotment and supplemental funds for state‑produced materials; the district said those reimbursements will offset a portion of the cost and that the $94,460 request would be drawn from the district’s instructional materials allotment, not the local general fund.

A presenter told trustees that a large majority of teachers (reported at 89 percent) chose Bluebonnet following the review process. Trustees asked about the parent portal and local procedures for addressing parental concerns; staff said parents may ask teachers for alternative assignments or use the portal to review lesson materials.

One trustee praised the choice and urged continued monitoring of implementation. The board approved the adoption and purchase in a motion on the record.