Texas Education Board Approves Bible Passages as Required Reading in Public Schools

Summary

More than 5 million Texas public school students will be required to read Bible passages starting in 2030, after the state's board of education approved a new statewide reading list that adds scripture to the standard curriculum. It is the first time Texas has made biblical content mandatory across its public school system, which enrolls one of the largest student populations in the country. The move arrives amid a broader national push by conservative-led states to increase the presence of religion in public education, including a Louisiana effort to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms that the Supreme Court agreed to review last year. Critics, including civil liberties groups, argue the Texas requirement crosses the constitutional line separating church and state under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. Supporters counter that the Bible carries undeniable literary and historical significance and belongs alongside other foundational texts in a well-rounded education. The new reading list is scheduled to take effect in 2030, giving districts several years to integrate the material. Whether the policy survives expected legal challenges will likely depend on how courts weigh the curriculum framing against the religious nature of the texts themselves.