Texas Education Officials Consider Adding Bible Passages to Required School Reading Lists

Texas education leaders are currently weighing a controversial proposal to integrate Biblical texts into the required reading lists for public school students from kindergarten through high school. The move, which accompanies proposed revisions to social studies standards, has sparked an intense debate over the separation of church and state and the diversity of classroom materials.

The Origins of the Proposal

The current discussions are rooted in a 2023 law, 88(R) HB 1605, which mandates that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) recommend at least one required reading for every grade level. In response, the agency surveyed thousands of teachers and developed a list of approximately 300 literary works. While the list includes children’s classics like Dr. Seuss and traditional epics such as The Odyssey, the inclusion of religious texts has become the primary point of contention.

Proposed Biblical Readings by Grade Level

The draft list identifies specific Biblical passages and stories to be introduced at various stages of a student’s education:

• Kindergarten: The Golden Rule
• Grade 1: Parable of the Prodigal Son
• Grade 3: Road to Damascus
• Grade 7: Psalms and Jonah and the Whale
• English I: David and Goliath and Lamentations
• English II: Tower of Babel
• English III: Ecclesiastes
• English IV: Book of Job

Notably, draft rule text from the TEA lists the State of Texas as the author for some of these works.

Key Points of Contention

The proposal has faced significant pushback during public testimony before the State Board of Education (SBOE) in Austin. Critics and supporters are divided on several key issues:

Constitutional and Pedagogical Concerns

Opponents argue that placing Biblical texts on a required reading list for public schools violates the constitutional separation of church and state. Some educators have expressed concern that the list is too extensive to be taught effectively within a single school year and that it restricts a teacher’s professional autonomy to select their own instructional materials.

The Diversity Debate

SBOE District 13 member Tiffany Clark has criticized the proposed list for a lack of diversity. Clark argued that relying on the same classical literature pieces has not improved reading scores, noting that Texas ranks 44th in the nation for 3rd-grade reading. She called for a more robust list that serves the diverse needs of Texas students.

What’s Next?

The Texas State Board of Education continues to evaluate the TEA’s recommendations. The final decision will determine whether these Biblical passages become a mandatory part of the curriculum for millions of students across the state, alongside broader changes to how U.S. And Texas history are emphasized in classrooms.