Texas Board of Education approves required reading list with Bible passages
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The Republican-controlled Texas State Board of Education on Friday approved a required reading list containing Bible passages, marking the latest efforts by conservative officials to promote Christian teachings in public schools.
The Texas State Board of Education voted 9-5, with one abstention, to approve the required reading list for the state’s more than 5 million public school students.
The required reading list includes works such as Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations” as well as passages from the New Testament.
The decision came after intense debate between supporters and critics and was closely watched by education watchdogs, who said it became the first statewide required reading list in the United States.
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The Texas State Board of Education has approved a required reading list of Bible passages for public school students. (Fox News Digital-Elizabeth Heckman)
Critics argued that the required reading list promoted Christianity over religious diversity and civil rights and blurred the constitutional separation of church and state.
Supporters argued that Judeo-Christian traditions were fundamental to the founding of the nation and should be reflected in classroom education.
The compulsory reading list will come into force for primary school students starting from the 2030-31 academic year.
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Muhammad Nasrullah, left, and Aziz Soomro, both of Houston, participate in an interfaith funeral-themed protest in front of the Barbara Jordan Building in Austin on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Jay Janner/Austin American Statesman via AP)
The board’s decision follows a series of educational measures in Texas, including allowing public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students, requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms and approving an optional Bible-infused curriculum.
A 2023 Texas law requires the teaching of a mandatory list of at least one literary work at every grade level. The newly approved required reading list includes nearly 200 texts, including books, articles and passages from the Bible.
Elva Mendoza, legislative communications director for the progressive Texas Freedom Network, which criticized the decision, told The Associated Press that the required reading list lacks diversity and does not give teachers and students the flexibility to choose what to read.
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Ruth Nasrullah (left) and Rocio Fierro-Perez, political director of the Texas Freedom Network, attend an interfaith funeral-themed protest in front of the Barbara Jordan Building in Austin on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Jay Janner/Austin American Statesman via AP)
“Texas schools serve children of all faiths and no faith, and all should be welcome in Texas schools,” Mendoza said.
“But this sends the message to children that only one religious text—the Christian text—is worthy of being included on this required reading list,” he added.
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The board was also expected to vote Friday on a new social studies curriculum that ties Bible stories to American history.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
