Texas Board of Education Approves Bible-Inclusive Reading Lists, Reigniting Church-State Debate
June 26 (Reuters) — The Texas Board of Education voted Friday to adopt mandated reading lists for public school students that include passages from the Bible, the latest flashpoint in a broader push by conservative leaders to integrate religious content into the state's education system.
The Republican-dominated board approved the lists by a 9-5 vote, with one member absent, affecting more than 5 million students in the state's public schools. The new curriculum is set to take effect starting in 2030.
The decision follows Texas's earlier mandate requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom — a measure upheld by a federal appeals court earlier this year. Texas joins several other Republican-led states, including Louisiana and Oklahoma, that have sought to introduce Christian teachings into public education, arguing that such texts hold historical and cultural significance.
Critics, however, contend that the moves violate the Constitution's establishment clause, which has long been interpreted by courts as requiring a separation of church and state. “This is a misuse of public schools to impose one narrow set of religious beliefs and indoctrinate a new generation in the false idea that America is a Christian nation,” said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in a statement.
The approved reading list is broad and includes mostly non-biblical classics, such as Aesop's fables, Native American tales, and a children's adaptation of Don Quixote. But critics note that the list is heavily weighted toward works by white male authors, even as Texas public schools serve a majority of Latino and Black students. The disparity has fueled concerns over representation and cultural sensitivity.
Supporters of the list argue it restores foundational Judeo-Christian values to classrooms and exposes students to texts that have shaped Western civilization. The board's decision is expected to face legal challenges, and similar battles in other states suggest the issue is far from settled.