Texas school board to vote on required Bible readings in public
education
[June 26, 2026]
By JAMIE STENGLE and JIM VERTUNO
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas education board will vote Friday on a
required reading list for more than 5 million public school students
that includes Bible passages, widening conservative efforts to push
Christian teachings in U.S. classrooms.
The proposal in Texas — which would mandate literary works such as
Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations” alongside parables from the New
Testament — has been closely followed by education observers who say it
appears to be the first of its kind in the nation.
If approved by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled
by Republicans, the reading list would take effect in 2030.
Texas, which educates roughly 1 in 10 of the nation's public school
students, has been at the forefront of a charge by conservatives to
incorporate more religion into classrooms. The state already allows
public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students, mandates the
display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms and has approved an
optional Bible-infused curriculum.
For months, critics have blasted both the push to require Bible readings
and the state mandating what books are read by students, which are
decisions typically left up to teachers. Teachers could still assign
students other books to read on top of the required titles.
A focus on Christianity
Critics say the reading list lacks diversity, blurs the separation of
church and state that is enshrined in the Constitution and leaves
teachers and students with little room to decide what to read.
“Kids of all faith backgrounds and no faith are served by Texas schools
and they should all feel welcome in Texas schools,” said Elva Mendoza,
legislative communications associate for the progressive Texas Freedom
Network. “But this is sending the message to children that one and only
one religious text — a Christian one — is worthy of making this required
reading list.”
Others have applauded the possibility of mandated Christian religious
reading in public schools. Brooke Mazel, a retiree from Lubbock,
encouraged the board to adopt biblical materials, saying her children
and grandchildren grew up with “strong faith and family values.”
“America should celebrate our 250 years that started as a nation of
unwavering Christian values,” Mazel said.
The board is also set to vote Friday on a social studies curriculum that
links Bible stories with American history.
Texas may be a trailblazer
A state law passed in 2023 required a mandatory list of at least one
literary work be taught in each grade level. The proposed new list
contains around 200 texts, including Bible passages, essays and books,
far in excess of that requirement.
Antero Garcia, president of the National Council of Teachers of English
and a Stanford University professor, said he doesn’t know of any other
state with a mandatory reading list that includes religious texts.
Educators at the district and school level usually choose the texts
their students will read, Garcia said.
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Robert Mearns of Granbury, dressed as an American Revolutionary War
soldier, listens during a meeting on proposed social studies
standards at the Barbara Jordan Building in Austin on Monday, June
22, 2026. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program,
agrees the move is “unique” to Texas.
Picture-book stories for elementary students including “David and
Goliath” and “Daniel and the Lion’s Den” are on the required reading
list. By fourth grade, students would encounter passages about Jesus
in the New Testament.
By middle school, students would be expected to read several
passages about Jesus, including passages from his most famous
sermon, and another where he instructs people to cast aside earthly
anxiety and seek the kingdom of God.
For high schoolers, the list requires the reading of specific Bible
passages as supportive materials for literary works including works
by Dickens and Jane Austen's “Pride and Prejudice."
Holding diversity in check
Such strict requirements amount to “almost de facto censorship,”
Meehan said, comparing the list to book bans.
“It certainly leans ideologically more conservative,” she said. “It
excludes a lot of diverse voices from the reading list.”
The list mandates that students reading Shakespeare's “The Tragedy
of Julius Caesar" also read a eulogy for President Ronald Reagan
written by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a
staunch conservative.
Frank Strong, an English and journalism teacher and co-founder of
the student advocacy group Texas Freedom to Read, said diversity is
not only important for students needing to see themselves in what
they read but also as a way to learn about different cultures.
Many of the books on the reading list are not controversial, but
Mendoza asks why books like “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” need to be
required for kindergartners.
“Can’t our kindergarten teachers be trusted to choose board books?”
Mendoza asks.
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Stengle reported from Dallas.
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