#USA #TX – On June 26, 2026, the Texas State Board of Education approved a groundbreaking required reading list for K-12 public schools that includes more than a dozen Bible passages and stories, making Texas the first U.S. state to mandate such religious texts as part of its core literature curriculum.
The decision, which passed along party lines with Republican support, establishes a statewide canon of approximately 200 literary works that more than 5 million Texas public school students will be required to read. Bible excerpts appear across most grade levels, from picture-book versions of stories like “Noah’s Ark,” “David and Goliath,” and “Daniel and the Lion’s Den” in elementary school to direct passages such as the Beatitudes and the Parable of the Prodigal Son in higher grades.
The move stems from a 2023 state law (HB 1605) that required the board to identify at least one literary work per grade level. Officials expanded the list significantly, framing the Bible selections as essential for cultural and historical literacy. Supporters argued that Christian traditions formed a foundation for American founding principles and should be reflected in education.
Texas Education officials described the texts as literary rather than devotional, to be studied alongside classics such as works by Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and other secular literature. The list is scheduled to take full effect in the 2030-31 school year.
The approval ignited immediate debate. Critics, including public education advocates and civil liberties groups, warned that the mandate risks violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by promoting Christianity in public classrooms. They noted the selections draw primarily from Protestant Christian translations and could marginalize students of other faiths or none. Legal observers predicted potential court challenges, citing precedents that allow objective study of religion but scrutinize mandatory devotional-leaning curricula.
Board Democrats unanimously opposed the measure during preliminary votes, while the nine Republican members supported it. The final approval followed days of public testimony and heated discussion in Austin.
Image: Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas.
