Abilene ISD receives $1.7 million grant for curriculum improvement

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — The Abilene Independent School District has been awarded $1,786,000 from the Texas Education Agency through a Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) grant.

This grant will be used to implement the new Bluebonnet learning curriculum, which uses biblical references for grades K through 5th, along with the creation of new learning models and professional learning communities within the district.

AISD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Patti Blue, said the funding and new curriculum will provide more resources in the district.

“The grant dollars are going to directly benefit our kids and our teachers. They’re going to lead to us being able to implement the innovative school-wide models that we heard our community would like to see in our schools. They’re going to let us enlarge and enhance teacher collaboration,” Blue said.

Blue went on to tell KTAB/KRBC that the grant will help continue the district’s current mission, hoping it will result from the conversation with the community.

“The goal for Abilene ISD right now is that we really want to make Abilene ISD the district of choice in Abilene and the entire Big Country, the whole area around here. So, we started in 2024 doing listening tours, listening to our community, listening to our parents,” Blue explained. “25-26 [school year], we’re going to continue having conversations, putting plans in place. Then 26-27 is when we’ll launch into implementing the models and plans we come up with in 25-26.”

The Bluebonnet learning curriculum will be implemented in K-5 classrooms district-wide starting in the 2025-26 school year. The curriculum was optional for public schools, but those that chose to participate were eligible for the grant.

AISD officials say they want to continue having open conversations with families about what changes they would like to see implemented in the district.