Texas education officials are weighing a proposal that could require public school students statewide to read selected passages from the Christian Bible as part of a new, standardized English language arts curriculum.
The Texas Education Agency has proposed a first-ever statewide mandated reading list under updated “Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills” standards.
Eleven selections are taken directly from the Bible, assigned across middle school and high school grade levels, with additional biblical retellings included through state curriculum materials.
The State Board of Education is set to vote on preliminary approval next week. If approved, final adoption of the reading list could occur by April 2026.
Separately, Texas has enacted a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom. That law has faced legal challenges and is currently under review by a federal appeals court over constitutional concerns.
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