Dear John, 

Thank you to all who traveled to Austin to testify on Monday or messaged the SBOE by email! Your voice made a difference! But the work is not done. The final vote on the Bluebonnet Learning materials is tomorrow and the opposition, led by Leftist Texas Freedom Network, is amplifying their message to have these materials rejected!

Earlier today, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) voted on a motion to remove the Bluebonnet Learning materials that have references to the Bible. The SBOE voted 7 in favor and 8 against the motion to remove the materials with Bible references. This means that the Bluebonnet Learning materials are saved for now, but there will be a final vote for approval this Friday!

While we are thankful for the slim majority victory that will allow students to benefit from the cultural and literary references to the Bible, there were a few Republicans who spoke out against the Bluebonnet materials and voted against them joining their Leftist, Democrat colleagues. SBOE members Pam Little (R- Fairview), Evelyn Brooks (R- Frisco), and Pat Hardy (R- Fort Worth) voted with Leftist Democrat members to reject the instructional materials with references to the Bible. If you live in Collin County, Tarrant County, or in the larger DFW area, please message these members to let them know that you support the Bluebonnet materials. Remind them of the values that they promised to uphold! For example, SBOE member Evelyn Brooks states in her bio that she “has extensive experience educating and helping youth to develop a Biblical worldview… and to think independently” and was also a Bible teacher. A special thanks to all of you who attended our Lunch and Learn event in Allen, Texas (Little and Brooks districts) last week to learn more what is happening at the SBOE.

Many influential organizations have joined Texas Values in support of the Bluebonnet materials since September: First Liberty Institute, Texas Eagle Forum, Concerned Women for America of Texas, Moms for Liberty, and Citizens Defending Freedom. You can watch the September press conference where all of these groups stood in solidarity here. Recently, President of American Principles Project, Terry Schilling tweeted his public support of the curriculum.

The instructional materials were saved Tuesday, but it is not over! Please contact you SBOE members and let them know that you support materials with Biblical references which are protected by the First Amendment. Tell them the positive influence you believe these materials will have in schools. Remind them this is a step in the right direction to offer an alternative to schools choosing radical LGBT, CRT lesson plans.

Please email the SBOE NOW! The final vote will be at the Friday, November 22, meeting!

To email the entire board with a single message, please send your message to:  [email protected].

To email individual members, use the addresses below. You can find your SBOE member at  https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home 

Chairman Aaron Kinsey  [email protected]

Evelyn Brooks [email protected]

Leslie Recine [email protected]

Pam Little [email protected]   

Pat Hardy [email protected] 

Tom Maynard [email protected]

Kevin Ellis [email protected] 

Audrey Young  [email protected]

Julie Pickren  [email protected]

Will Hickman [email protected]

Rebecca Bell-Metereau [email protected]

Staci Childs [email protected]

Marisa B. Perez-Diaz marisa.perez@sboe.texas.gov 

LJ Francis  [email protected]

Melissa N. Ortega [email protected]