The Texas State Board of Education has voted to require public school students to read selected passages from the Bible as part of a new statewide literature curriculum.
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The Republican-controlled board approved the required reading list on Friday by a 9-5-1 vote. The list includes excerpts from the Book of Exodus for fifth-grade students, The Shepherd's Psalm for seventh graders and other biblical passages.
The new curriculum also features works by E.B. White, Shel Silverstein, Aesop, Kurt Vonnegut and Elie Wiesel. It will affect more than five million students enrolled in Texas public schools.
Bible added to mandatory literature list
Board members debated the proposal before the vote, discussing the timeline for implementation and whether the changes would limit teachers' ability to decide which works should be taught in their classrooms.
Supporters cite historical and literary value
Julie Pickren, a Republican member of the Texas State Board of Education, previously told The Texas Tribune that the selected readings are intended to give students a better understanding of the moral and philosophical traditions that have shaped Western civilization.
She said studying original writings, speeches, sermons and other foundational texts allows students to evaluate ideas while gaining a deeper understanding of the principles that have influenced both the United States and Texas.
Supporters have argued that the Bible holds significant literary and historical value and should be studied alongside other influential works.
Critics raise constitutional concerns
Opponents of the measure argued that requiring a state-approved reading list reduces teachers' professional independence.
Board member Evelyn Brooks said teachers have selected classroom books for many years and should retain that responsibility. She argued that imposing a mandatory list takes away their autonomy and said she believes the policy is unconstitutional.
The debate over the proposal focused not only on the inclusion of biblical passages but also on whether the state should dictate required reading for every public school classroom.
Experts question broader impact
Antero Garcia, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education and a former high school English teacher, described the new curriculum as a major shift in what students across Texas will study during their years in public education.
Garcia said he believes the measure is the first of its kind at the state level and suggested other states with similar political priorities could adopt comparable policies.
He acknowledged that the Bible has long been taught as an important work of literature in secular educational settings and said its literary significance should not be overlooked.
However, Garcia noted that no other religious texts appear on the mandatory reading list. He said repeated exposure to a single religious work throughout students' education, without comparable study of other faith traditions, could influence students toward Christianity over time.
The decision marks a significant change to Texas' public school literature curriculum and is expected to shape classroom instruction across the state's education system.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 28 June 2026
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