Texas approves optional Bible-heavy curriculum for elementary schools

Texas’ board of education voted Friday to allow Bible-heavy teachings in elementary schools, joining other Republican-led states this year pushing for greater presence of religion in public classrooms.

Adopting the curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by elected Republicans, is optional for schools, but they would receive additional funding if they do so. The materials could appear in the classroom as early as the next school year.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott voiced his support for lesson plans provided by the state’s education agency, which oversees more than 5 million students in Texas public schools.

Parents and teachers opposed to the curriculum said the lessons would alienate students from other faith backgrounds.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge blocks Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms

Supporters argued that the Bible was a fundamental feature of American history and that teaching it would enrich students’ learning.

The new Texas curriculum follows Republican-led efforts in neighboring states to give religion more coverage in public schools. In Oklahoma, the state’s education chief has ordered a copy of the Bible in every classroom, while Louisiana wants the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in the state starting next year.

With the new curriculum, Texas will be the first state to introduce Bible studies in schools this way, according to Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University.

Create Bible-inspired lessons

The Texas Education Agency, which oversees public education for more than 5 million students statewide, created its own educational materials after a law passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature in 2023 required the agency to do so. Lesson plans were made public this spring.

In reading and language arts modules recommended for kindergarten through fifth grade, the material draws on lessons from Christianity rather than other religions; Critics say it would alienate students from different faith backgrounds and potentially violate the First Amendment.

“This curriculum is not age-appropriate or subject-matter appropriate in the way it presents Bible stories,” said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty.

He said children who read the material “are too young to understand the difference between a belief claim and what is real.”

More than 100 people testified at this week’s board meeting, which was packed with excitement from parents, teachers and advocates. Supporters of the curriculum argued that the Bible was a fundamental feature of American history and that teaching it would enrich students’ learning.

“There are actually said to be close to 300 daily statements that come from the Bible,” said Mary Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a right-leaning advocacy group. “So students will benefit from understanding many of these references in the literature and finding a way to understand them.”

Narrow early voting

The 15-member board includes 11 Republicans and 4 Democrats. An 8-7 primary vote on Wednesday signaled support for the materials.

One of the board members is a Republican who was appointed to the board a few weeks ago by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to temporarily fill a vacant seat. Days after that appointment, an unopposed Democrat was elected to fill the same board seat starting next year.

Abbott has publicly endorsed the instruction materials.

Shaw said it is not yet clear whether the lesson plans will be considered constitutional if the curriculum is adopted.

“The question is how Texas will frame what is being done here to prevent or directly combat the establishment problem,” he said.

Bringing religion to schools

Texas’ plan to apply Bible teachings to lesson plans in public schools is the latest effort by Republican-controlled states to bring religion into classrooms.

In Louisiana, legislation that would have placed the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms was blocked by a federal judge earlier this month. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill in June, prompting a lawsuit from a group of Louisiana public school parents with differing beliefs.

In Oklahoma, the state’s top education official tried to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for children in fifth through 12th grades. A group of teachers and parents recently filed a lawsuit to stop the Republican state superintendent’s plan and efforts to spend $3 million to buy Bibles for public schools.