That call for action helped fuel the board\u2019s 7-2 vote to adopt a new phonics program aimed at strengthening foundational reading skills across kindergarten through third grade. The decision will bring Bluebonnet Learning<\/a>\u2019s phonics program into Fort Worth ISD classrooms beginning this fall, a move district leaders said will build on recent gains while addressing gaps that remain.<\/p>\n Trustees Wallace Bridges and Camille Rodriguez voted against the curriculum\u2019s adoption.<\/p>\n The nearly $1 million purchase \u2014 funded through the state<\/a> \u2014 includes English and Spanish phonics materials and will extend phonics instruction through third grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to strengthen that early literacy foundation and we know that we needed an additional phonics program,\u201d Molinar said.<\/p>\n What is phonics reading method?<\/p>\n Phonics is a method of teaching reading that helps students connect letters to sounds. By learning these relationships, children can \u201csound out\u201d and decode unfamiliar words.<\/p>\n For example, in the word cat, students learn that the letter c makes a \/k\/ sound, a makes a short \/a\/ sound, and t makes a \/t\/ sound \u2014 blending together to form cat.<\/p>\n Phonics instruction focuses on letter recognition, letter-sound associations, blending sounds to form words and common spelling patterns. Phonics is a core part of the \u201cscience of reading<\/a>,\u201d an evidence-based approach that emphasizes teaching children how written language maps to spoken sounds.<\/p>\n She emphasized that the purchase covers only the phonics component of Bluebonnet, not its optional reading lessons that feature Bible stories<\/a>.<\/p>\n The program\u2019s name alone sparked debate.<\/p>\n Bridges and Rodriguez raised concerns voiced by constituents that Bluebonnet\u2019s materials could introduce religious references into classrooms.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of concern about the Bluebonnet material \u2014 the feeling that we\u2019re bringing in some type of religious material for students,\u201d Bridges said. \u201cHow does that work if I\u2019m a parent, and I\u2019m a Muslim and I don\u2019t really support that?\u201d<\/p>\n Deputy Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury addressed those concerns directly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe skills component we are adopting today has nothing to do with any of that,\u201d Choudhury said. \u201cIt is phonics \u2014 aligned to the science of reading \u2014 and has no religious references. The knowledge component, where some of those references exist, we are not adopting.\u201d<\/p>\n About 2% of Bluebonnet\u2019s knowledge lessons<\/a> statewide contain religious references, he said, but Fort Worth ISD\u2019s adoption excludes that portion.<\/p>\n \u201cI have the same concerns,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cI will not be supporting this.\u201d<\/p>\n Other trustees appreciated the program\u2019s alignment with district needs.<\/p>\n \u201cI love that this has a Spanish component,\u201d trustee Anael Luebanos told Molinar and Choudhury. \u201cThank you very much for including that and making sure the majority of our students will be able to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n The phonics adoption comes after months of internal review and teacher feedback, Molinar said. She described the shift as critical for helping students who missed strong early phonics instruction.\u00a0<\/p>\n The new program is part of Fort Worth ISD\u2019s broader effort to standardize instructional practices and accelerate literacy gains<\/a>. Early literacy scores saw improvements during the 2024-25 school year, but Molinar stressed the district must not slow down.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery percentage point matters when we\u2019re closing that achievement gap for our subgroups,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen we can find savings, it needs to go back into literacy.\u201d<\/p>\n By choosing Bluebonnet\u2019s phonics program, district officials said, Fort Worth ISD can leverage state instructional materials funding \u2014 a decision that saves about $355,000 compared to the district\u2019s original phonics plan, which would have required separate purchases for English and Spanish resources and did not extend through third grade.<\/p>\n The move also follows Fort Worth ISD\u2019s May adoption of Bluebonnet Learning\u2019s math curriculum<\/a>, a decision tied to securing additional state funding. The State Board of Education approved Bluebonnet\u2019s full curriculum in fall 2024<\/a>, a package that drew debate for its inclusion of Bible stories.<\/p>\n Teacher training on the new program will begin this summer, with classroom use set to start in August.<\/p>\n Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @matthewsgroi1<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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