The Texas State Board of Education voted 9-5-1 on Friday to require public school students to read Bible passages as part of a statewide reading curriculum. The mandate, which will take effect in the 2030-31 school year, includes biblical texts alongside secular literature such as "Charlotte’s Web" and "Great Expectations." Younger students will read simplified versions of stories like David and Goliath, while older students will engage with New Testament passages and other biblical texts.
The decision follows a proposal introduced years ago and aligns with broader efforts by the Republican-controlled board to incorporate Christianity into public education. Supporters argue the curriculum recognizes the Bible’s historical, literary, and cultural influence on the United States. Critics, however, contend the mandate crosses constitutional lines by introducing religious instruction into public schools.
The curriculum will apply to approximately 5.5 million students across Texas public and charter schools. The board also included other religious and historical texts, such as Anne Frank’s diary, in the required readings. Some Jewish leaders have expressed concerns about the inclusion of Christian content, citing past controversies over Holocaust-related materials.
The vote marks the latest in a series of Republican-backed measures to expand Christianity’s role in Texas schools, including the display of the Ten Commandments and the allowance of school chaplains. Teachers, trained in literacy and social studies, will now navigate how to present biblical texts to students from diverse religious backgrounds.
NBA champion Josh Hart celebrated the decision on social media, praising the board’s vote. Republican board member Julie Pickren defended the readings as essential for understanding Western civilization’s moral and philosophical traditions. Meanwhile, one Republican board member, Evelyn Brooks, questioned the mandate’s constitutionality and criticized the state’s imposition of a reading list.