Religion row as Texas makes Bible stories required reading in schools

The Texas State Board of Education approved a statewide mandatory reading list that requires public school students to study selected Bible stories alongside traditional literature. More than five million students across Texas will be affected when the phased rollout begins with elementary schools in 2030. The Republican-controlled board passed the measure in a 9-5 vote after several weeks of public hearings and debate.

The move also highlights Texas’ growing influence on education policy across the United States. The state educates roughly one in every ten U.S. public school students, making its curriculum decisions closely watched nationwide. In addition, President Donald Trump pledged during last year’s election campaign to protect prayer in public schools. As a result, the Texas policy is expected to remain a major focus of legal, political, and public discussion as implementation moves closer.

Texas Reading List Adds Bible Passages Alongside Classic Literature

The new reading list reshapes the Texas curriculum by combining selected Bible passages with classic literary works across multiple grade levels. The expansion builds on a 2023 state law that required at least one approved literary work for every grade. However, the Texas State Board of Education has broadened that requirement into a mandatory reading list of nearly 200 texts. Elementary students will study Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, and Daniel and the Lion’s Den. Fourth-grade students will read passages from the New Testament, while seventh graders will study excerpts from the Book of Jonah and the Book of Psalms. High school students will also examine passages from Genesis, Exodus, Lamentations, and the New Testament as supporting texts for literature and historical themes.

The curriculum also includes widely studied literary works such as Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, and Charlotte’s Web. In addition, older students will study Martin Luther King Jr.’s I’ve Been to the Mountaintop speech and Margaret Thatcher’s eulogy for former President Ronald Reagan. Although Texas law allows parents to remove children from lessons that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs .The expanded curriculum represents one of the most significant changes to Texas public school reading requirements in recent years.

Critics Question Religious Neutrality as Supporters Defend Curriculum

Supporters say the curriculum recognizes the historical influence of Judeo-Christian traditions on American history, literature, and civic life rather than promoting religious instruction. They argue that biblical texts provide valuable historical and cultural context for students studying classic literature. Board member Brandon Hall described the decision as bringing the Bible back to Texas classrooms after sixty years. In addition, Mandy Drogin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation said the selected readings encourage discussion about liberty, virtue, civic responsibility, and human nature.

However, critics argue that the policy gives Christianity greater prominence than other faiths and raises constitutional concerns over the separation of church and state. Felicia Martin of the Texas Freedom Network said the reading list reflects a narrow Western Christian perspective while offering limited representation of Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and other religious traditions. Teachers have also questioned the impact on classroom flexibility. Alyse Dent said some Muslim, atheist, or non-Christian students could experience the lessons as religious teaching rather than literary study. Clare Haefner of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association also raised concerns about the size and practicality of the mandatory list. The debate is now expected to continue in courts, classrooms, and state politics as Texas prepares to introduce the new curriculum from 2030.

Web Resources on Religion row as Texas makes Bible stories required reading in schools

1. BBC.com : Religion row as Texas makes Bible stories required reading in schools.
2. Guardian.com : Texas makes Bible passages required reading for millions of public school students.
3. CNN.com : Texas State Board of Education votes to require millions of students to study Bible stories.
4. AP News.com : Bible stories are approved as required reading in Texas public schools.
5. USA Today.com : Bible stories are approved as required reading in Texas public schools.