On June 26, 2026, Texas became the first state in recent history to approve a required K-12 reading list that includes Bible stories in public schools. The Texas State Board of Education, which has a majority-Republican panel, voted in favor of the reading list. This decision follows a law enacted in 2025 that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
The reading list will take effect in 2030 for elementary students, with higher grades to follow. Younger elementary students will learn classic Bible stories, such as David versus Goliath, while fourth-graders will begin reading passages from the New Testament. By middle school, students will study more complex passages, including the Sermon on the Mount, and high school students will read specific Bible passages alongside works by authors like Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.
Critics argue that this initiative blurs the separation of church and state, while supporters contend that understanding the Bible is important due to its influence on American society. This marks the first time since a Supreme Court ruling in 1963 that the Bible has been included in Texas classrooms. The Texas State Board of Education is also considering integrating Bible stories with U.S. history in the new social studies curriculum, with a vote on that proposal expected soon.