Texas has approved a controversial new curriculum that allows elementary schools to incorporate Bible teachings into reading and language arts lessons.
Schools adopting the optional program will receive additional state funding, and the materials could appear in classrooms as early as the next school year.
The Texas State Board of Education, which voted 8-7 in favor of the curriculum, is following a national trend among Republican-led states pushing for greater integration of religion in public education.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott has publicly supported the initiative. He previously framed it as an opportunity to enrich students' understanding of "history, art, community, literature, and religion" and how they relate to pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution.
Praise and Criticism
Critics argue that the curriculum, developed by the Texas Education Agency after a 2023 legislative mandate, leans too heavily on Christianity.
Faithful America's petition received just over 15,000 signatures in its condemnation of the proposal. It posed the argument for separation of church and state.
"Forcing Christianity on others doesn't spread our faith––it corrupts it," it read.
Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, has concerns that the materials might violate the First Amendment's establishment clause.
"This curriculum is not age-appropriate or subject matter appropriate in the way that it presents these Bible stories," Tyler said. She warned that young children might struggle to discern faith-based claims from factual information.
Supporters, however, argue that teaching biblical references will deepen students' understanding of literature and culture. Mary Castle, director of government relations for the right-leaning advocacy group Texas Values, thinks the widespread influence of the Bible should be felt across the whole classroom.
"It is said that there are close to 300 common-day phrases that actually come from the Bible," she said. "So students will benefit from being able to understand a lot of these references that are in literature and have a way to be able to comprehend them."
Following Oklahoma and Louisiana's Example
Texas is not alone in pushing for religious teachings in public schools.
In Oklahoma, State Superintendent Ryan Walters has allocated $3 million to purchase Bibles for classrooms, despite a lawsuit from teachers and parents seeking to block the move.
Meanwhile, a Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms was recently halted by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles.
Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University, noted that Texas' plan is particularly bold in its approach.
"Texas would be the first state to introduce Bible lessons in schools in this manner," said Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University.
"The question is how is Texas going to frame what is done here to avoid the establishment question or tackle it head-on."
How the Supreme Court May Influence Future Rulings
The Texas State Board of Education, composed of 11 Republicans and four Democrats, saw intense debate over the measure. The 8-7 vote was shaped by Governor Abbott's temporary appointment of a Republican board member just weeks before the decision.
A Democrat elected to that same seat will replace the appointee next year, potentially shifting the balance of power.
The vote followed a heated public hearing, during which over 100 parents, educators, and advocates offered testimony in a decision that affects more than 5 million students in Texas public schools.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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