Texas makes Bible passages required reading for millions of public school students

Critics say mandating Bible reading for over five million students breaches constitutional separation of church and state

The Texas education board has approved a broad new statewide reading list that, for the first time, will make passages from the Bible required reading for more than 5 million public school students.

Under the new initiative, Bible stories will become mandatory reading for millions of public school students in addition to a more standard collection of books, renewing debate over growing efforts in the US to increase the role of religion in classrooms.

The rollout will be staggered, starting with elementary school students in 2030.

The Republican-controlled Texas state board of education gave final approval to the plan during a vote on Friday. Last year, Texas became the largest state to require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom.

The move stems from a 2023 Texas law requiring state education officials to designate at least one literary work for every grade level, with the state board expanding on that mandate by recommending multiple texts for each grade. While teachers may still assign books outside the list, they must do so in addition to the required selections.

The reading list states that excerpts from the Book of Jonah and the Book of Psalm will be required reading beginning in seventh grade. Additional excerpts from several parts of the Bible, such as the Book of Lamentations and the Book of Genesis, will become part of the curriculum for high school students.

The list has sparked strong criticism. Opponents say it breaches the constitutional separation of church and state, lacks diversity and gives preference to Christianity over other faiths. Supporters argue that Judeo-Christian traditions played a central role in the country’s founding and should be represented in public school teachings.

The curriculum has drawn criticism not only for its inclusion of religious texts but also for its heavy emphasis on older works, many written by white male authors, in a state where more than half of public school students are Hispanic or Black.

Last year, Donald Trump pledged to “protect prayer” in public schools. During his first term, he introduced measures that aimed to make it easier for religious organizations to access federal programs. Texas, a Republican-led state that educates roughly one in 10 public school students in the US, has often influenced education policy nationwide.