Kindergartners in the Montezuma-Cortez School District are now learning the Book of Genesis creation story as part of their required reading lessons — not because Colorado law calls for it, but because the district copied a curriculum choice made by a Houston, Texas school district.

The reading program, called Bluebonnet, was built for Texas classrooms. It teaches Colorado kids about the Texas flag and the Texas Pledge of Allegiance, and weaves Bible content through reading units for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Colorado had more than 20 state-approved reading programs to choose from instead. The switch happened with no public hearing and no school board vote, and one sitting board member admits he does not know if the program meets Colorado standards.

Religious studies professor Mark Chancey of Southern Methodist University told Chalkbeat Colorado that Bluebonnet mishandles Bible stories and largely ignores religious traditions outside Christianity.

Public schools are meant to serve every family, whatever they believe. Teaching Bible stories as reading lessons to 5-year-olds crosses the line the Constitution's establishment clause was written to prevent.

The Montezuma-Cortez School District Board of Education and Superintendent Eddie Ramirez can still reverse this, hold a public hearing, and pick a Colorado-approved curriculum instead.

Sign the petition to demand Montezuma-Cortez drop Bluebonnet and choose a curriculum that serves every student — before this school year locks it in for good.