The Texas State Board of Education has approved a new reading list for K-12 public schools that includes Bible stories alongside classic literature. The mandate, which will affect over 5 million students, requires the reading of specific Bible passages and stories from second grade through high school. The curriculum will be phased in starting in 2030, with elementary students first.
The approved list includes Bible stories such as David and Goliath for younger students and passages from the New Testament, including the Sermon on the Mount, for older students. The curriculum also emphasizes classic literature, such as works by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, and historic American texts like Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
The decision has sparked debate, with critics arguing that it blurs the separation of church and state and lacks diversity. Supporters, however, contend that the Bible’s influence on American society and history justifies its inclusion in the curriculum. The Texas Board of Education, which is majority-Republican, has been at the forefront of efforts to incorporate more Christian teachings into public education, including a 2025 law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
The new reading list is part of a broader revision of the state’s social studies curriculum, which will focus more on Texas and U.S. history while deemphasizing global history and cultures. The changes also include the elimination of a sixth-grade World Cultures course and expanded lessons on communism.
The implementation of the new curriculum has been met with mixed reactions from teachers, parents, and community members. Hundreds of individuals voiced their opinions during a recent school board meeting, reflecting the divisive nature of the decision.
Legal challenges to the curriculum have not yet been filed, but critics have raised concerns about its constitutionality. The Supreme Court ruled in 1963 that mandatory Bible readings in public schools were unconstitutional, though recent legal precedents have allowed for the teaching of the Bible as literature and history.
The Texas State Board of Education is also considering pairing Bible stories with U.S. history in the new social studies curriculum, further integrating religious content into the educational framework.