Texas Classrooms Continue Fight Over Faith And Required Reading
Texas public schools are again at the center of a national fight over religion, education and who gets to decide what children read.
On Friday, the Texas State Board of Education approved a required reading list for more than 5 million public school students that includes Bible stories and passages from the New Testament. The state-mandated list, approved in a 9-5 vote, is expected to take effect beginning in the 2030-2031 school year.
The decision places Texas among the first states in the country to require a literary canon for all public school students. The list includes classic works such as Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations,” Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web,” Shakespeare, historic American texts and multiple Bible-based readings.
Supporters argue the Bible belongs in classrooms as literature and history. Critics say the mandate favors Christianity and chips away at the separation of church and state.
Bible Stories Added Alongside Classic Literature
The required list includes picture-book versions of “David and Goliath” and “Daniel and the Lion’s Den” for younger students. By fourth grade, students will encounter New Testament passages about Jesus. Middle school students are expected to read Bible passages including the Sermon on the Mount and other teachings about faith, anxiety and the kingdom of God.
For high school students, Bible passages will be used as supporting material alongside major literary works.
The board’s decision follows a 2023 Texas law requiring at least one state-approved literary work to be taught in every grade level. But the new list goes much further, with roughly 200 required texts across grade levels.
Teachers may still assign additional books, but many educators objected to the state taking away local control over core reading choices.
“I don’t have a problem reading about David and Goliath because I believe in those stories,” Alyse Dent, a Dallas-area high school English teacher, said. “But if I’m reading to one of my students — they’re Muslim or they’re atheist — I can say all day long, ‘Well, we’re teaching a theme, we’re teaching symbolism,’ but they’re hearing, ‘This is a Bible story. We’re talking about God.’”
Supporters Say Bible Shaped American History
Conservative supporters of the reading list say biblical texts are central to understanding American culture, civic life and the nation’s founding.
“These timeless works, including biblical passages, have shaped American culture and history, and have influenced generations of thinkers, leaders, and citizens, and they continue to offer valuable lessons about human nature, virtue, liberty, and civic responsibility,” said Mandy Drogin, a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Texas has already moved aggressively to bring more religious references into public education. Last year, the state became the largest in the country to require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom. Texas also allows public schools to hire chaplains to counsel students and has approved an optional Bible-infused curriculum.
During this week’s debate, Brooke Mazel, a retiree from Lubbock, said her children and grandchildren were raised with “strong faith and family values” and supported the required titles.
“America should celebrate our 250 years that started as a nation of unwavering Christian values,” Mazel said.
Critics Say The List Is Too Narrow
Opponents say the list does not reflect Texas classrooms, where students come from many faiths, cultures and backgrounds. Critics also warned that religious readings may place teachers in the uncomfortable position of explaining faith-based material they may not believe or fully understand.
Texas law allows parents to remove a child from a class or activity that conflicts with religious or moral beliefs. Still, critics say opting out may come at a cost if the readings become part of state testing or classroom instruction tied to grades.
Chanea Bond, who teaches college and advanced high school English courses in Fort Worth, said a statewide list could help close gaps between districts, but the approved list remains too limited.
“It is very narrow and does not represent what classrooms in Texas look like,” Bond said. “Going through most of high school without ever having much value put into voices that sound like yours kind of sends a message that your voices aren’t valuable.”
The list also drew attention for pairing Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” with a eulogy for President Ronald Reagan written by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
For supporters, the vote is about restoring tradition. For critics, it is about whether the state is elevating one religious worldview inside public classrooms.
Either way, Texas has made clear that the next major education battle will not only be about reading scores. It will be about whose stories are required, whose faith is centered and who gets to decide what counts as essential knowledge.
