Texas Board of Education approves required reading list with Bible passages for 5 million students

The Republican-controlled Texas State Board of Education approved a required speechmaking database Friday that includes passages from the Bible, marking the latest effort by blimpish officials to grow Christian teachings successful nationalist schools.

The Texas State Board of Education voted 9-5, with 1 abstention, to o.k. the required speechmaking database for the state's much than 5 cardinal nationalist schoolhouse students.

The required speechmaking database includes works specified arsenic Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" on with passages from the New Testament.

The determination came aft aggravated statement betwixt supporters and critics and has been intimately watched by acquisition observers, who accidental it appears to beryllium the archetypal statewide required speechmaking database of its benignant successful the United States.

TEXAS OFFICIALS BACK OPTIONAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM WITH BIBLICAL REFERENCES, SPARKING BACKLASH

The Texas State Board of Education approved a required speechmaking database that includes passages from the Bible for nationalist schoolhouse students. (Fox News Digital-Elizabeth Heckman)

Critics argued the required speechmaking database promotes Christianity implicit spiritual diverseness and civilian rights portion blurring the law separation of religion and state.

Supporters argued Judeo-Christian traditions are cardinal to the nation's founding and should beryllium reflected successful schoolroom instruction.

The required speechmaking database volition instrumentality effect opening with the 2030-31 schoolhouse twelvemonth for simple schoolhouse students.

FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS TEXAS LAW REQUIRING TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC CLASSROOMS

Mohammed Nasrullah, left, and Aziz Soomro, some of Houston, enactment successful an interfaith funeral-themed protestation extracurricular the Barbara Jordan Building successful Austin connected Monday, June 22, 2026. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

The board's determination follows a bid of acquisition measures successful Texas, including allowing nationalist schools to prosecute chaplains to counsel students, requiring the show of the Ten Commandments successful classrooms and approving an optional Bible-infused curriculum.

A 2023 Texas instrumentality requires a mandatory database of astatine slightest 1 literate enactment to beryllium taught astatine each people level. The recently approved required speechmaking database contains astir 200 texts, including books, essays and passages from the Bible.

One professional of the decision, Elva Mendoza, legislative communications subordinate for the progressive Texas Freedom Network, told The Associated Press that the required speechmaking database lacked diverseness and did not springiness teachers and students the flexibility to take what they read.

PROGRESSIVE PUBLISHERS LAUNCH CHILDREN'S BIBLE STORIES WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE, DIVERSITY THEMES

Ruth Nasrullah, left, and Rocio Fierro-Perez, governmental manager for the Texas Freedom Network, enactment successful an interfaith funeral-themed protestation extracurricular the Barbara Jordan Building successful Austin connected Monday, June 22, 2026. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

"Kids of each religion backgrounds and nary religion are served by Texas schools and they should each consciousness invited successful Texas schools," Mendoza said.

"But this is sending the connection to children that 1 and lone 1 spiritual substance — a Christian 1 — is worthy of making this required speechmaking list," she added.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The committee was besides expected to ballot Friday connected a caller societal studies program that links Bible stories with American history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.