Texas Education Board Approves New Curriculum Integrating Biblical Teachings into Public Schools
The Texas State Board of Education has approved new public school curriculum standards that incorporate biblical teachings and references into classroom instruction, a move that has sparked nationwide debate over religion’s role in public education.
The Republican-controlled board voted 9-5 on Friday to adopt a mandatory reading list for all grade levels before approving revised social studies standards for kindergarten through eighth grade. The changes will affect approximately 5.5 million students enrolled in Texas public schools and are expected to influence future textbooks, classroom materials, and statewide examinations.
Under the new standards, students will study biblical figures and concepts as part of lessons on history, literature, and civic development. Figures such as Jesus, Abraham, and Moses are included in the curriculum, with supporters arguing that understanding biblical influences is essential to understanding American history and culture.
The revised standards are expected to be introduced gradually, beginning with elementary school implementation during the 2030–2031 academic year.
Supporters of the changes said the curriculum will strengthen students’ understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of the United States while promoting what they describe as Judeo-Christian values.
Speaking during a prayer gathering outside the hearing, board member Brandon Hall said the move represented a return of biblical instruction to schools after decades of absence.
However, the decision was not unanimously supported even among Republican board members. Evelyn Brooks voted against the mandatory reading list, expressing concerns that it could limit teachers’ flexibility in choosing instructional materials.
The approval has drawn criticism from civil liberties organizations and religious advocacy groups, which argue that the curriculum gives preferential treatment to Christianity in public education.
Freedom From Religion Foundation President Annie Laurie Gaylor criticized the decision, arguing that public schools should remain neutral on matters of religion and that the standards could marginalize students from non-Christian backgrounds.
Jewish and Muslim organizations have also expressed concerns about how their faith traditions are represented in the revised curriculum, calling for closer scrutiny of the content before full implementation.
The development is expected to fuel ongoing national debates over education policy, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state in the United States, with supporters viewing the changes as a restoration of historical values and critics describing them as government endorsement of a particular faith tradition.
As Texas moves toward implementation of the new standards, educators, parents, religious groups, and legal experts are expected to continue examining their potential impact on one of the largest public school systems in the United States.
Texas Education Board Approves New Curriculum Integrating Biblical Teachings into Public Schools