The Texas State Board of Education voted Friday to adopt a statewide mandatory book list requiring all 5 million public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade to read passages from the Bible starting in 2030. The list also includes changes to the social studies curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade, with a vote on high school social studies delayed until September.
Specific Bible Passages by Grade Level
Under the new policy, third-graders must read a picture book based on a story from the Book of Daniel. Fifth-graders will study the story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea from the Book of Exodus, while eighth-graders will read passages from Ecclesiastes. High school students will read about Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis.
Criticism from Separationists
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, condemned the decision, saying, "Today’s vote by the Texas State Board of Education is yet another example of Texas politicians pushing Christianity on public schoolchildren. Public schools should not force children to read Bible stories." She added that the policy is part of a broader movement to impose one narrow set of religious beliefs and indoctrinate students with the idea that America is a Christian country.
Unprecedented Statewide Mandate
Educators say Texas may be the first state to implement such a mandatory statewide book list. Antero Garcia, president of the National Council of Teachers of English, told The Associated Press he knows of no other state with a similar list, as school districts typically handle their own reading materials.
Public Support and Opposition
During a board meeting earlier this week, Texans voiced strong opinions. Susan Perez, founder of the right-wing group Citizens for Education Reform, which advocates for Christianity in public schools, said, "We need to focus on what our nation was founded on and not apologize for that. It is the truth, and we should not be afraid." However, Rabbi Joshua Fixler, a Houston resident and parent of Jewish children, objected: "This list is full of Christian texts that are inappropriate for public school classrooms. As a rabbi and a parent, I think it is vital that this board make a distinction between teaching about religion and teaching religion. This list will force teachers to cross that line."
Broader Context of Religious Influence
The new social studies curriculum minimizes world history and cultures, focusing more on U.S. and Texas history. Texas has been at the forefront of efforts to inject Christianity into public schools, with battles over books and classroom materials intensifying over the past several years, often sparked by conservative parents objecting to LGBTQ+ or racial themes. The state already offers a Bible-based curriculum option for schools, providing extra funding to districts that opt in. Additionally, a state law requiring every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments was upheld by a federal appeals court after a lengthy legal battle.
