AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is moving forward with a proposal to introduce Bible-based lessons in elementary schools, pending a final vote that could redefine the intersection of religious teachings and public education in the United States.
This proposed curriculum has already passed a preliminary vote by the Texas State Board of Education, where board members heard passionate arguments from both advocates and opponents concerning the potential educational materials that could be in use by the next school year.
If this curriculum is approved, it would position Texas among states like Oklahoma and Louisiana, which have made efforts to promote a religious presence in public education. Oklahoma’s education chief has mandated that every classroom must have a Bible, while Louisiana has pushed for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms starting next year.
Adoption of this curriculum would be optional for schools, but those choosing to implement it would receive extra funding.
Should the board proceed with this plan, Texas would become the first state to officially incorporate Bible lessons in this way, according to Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University.
The Texas Education Agency, responsible for the education of over 5 million students across the state, developed its own instructional materials in response to legislation passed by the Republican-majority Legislature in 2023. The curriculum was publicly disclosed earlier this year.
Critics of the material assert that the lesson plans primarily reflect Christian teachings and may alienate students from other faiths, potentially infringing on the constitutional separation of church and state. “This curriculum is not age-appropriate,” stated Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, adding that at a young age, children struggle to differentiate between faith claims and factual content.
During a board meeting, over 100 individuals shared their views, revealing the emotional divide on the issue. Proponents believe that learning about the Bible is essential to grasping American history and its cultural references. Mary Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, mentioned that the Bible contributes significantly to modern language, claiming there are nearly 300 everyday phrases that have biblical origins. This understanding, she argues, would enhance students’ comprehension of literature.
In an initial 8-7 vote, the board—which comprises 11 Republicans and 4 Democrats—showed its support for the proposed curriculum. One of the Republican members was appointed just weeks prior to the vote by Governor Greg Abbott to fill a temporary vacancy, and a Democrat was subsequently elected to take over the seat in the following year. Governor Abbott has publicly backed the proposed instructional materials.
However, the constitutionality of these lesson plans remains uncertain if the curriculum goes ahead, as Shaw highlights the need for Texas to carefully frame the implementation to navigate constitutional concerns.
Texas’ initiative to embed biblical teachings in public school education reflects a broader trend among Republican-led states seeking to integrate religion into the educational system. In Louisiana, a judge recently halted a law meant to display the Ten Commandments in public schools after a lawsuit from concerned parents of diverse faiths. Furthermore, in Oklahoma, the push to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for older students has also faced legal challenges, with lawsuits emerging in response to plans to allocate substantial funds for Bibles in public schools.