Texas Bible Reading List Could Require Public School Students to Read Scripture Excerpts
Texas public school students could soon be required to read Bible excerpts as part of a statewide reading list that would be used across every grade level.
The Texas State Board of Education is considering what could become one of the first state-mandated book lists for public school students. The proposal includes classic literature, speeches, historical texts and biblical passages that would be required reading for millions of students.
Last year Texas became the largest state to require every classroom to display the Ten Commandments.
If approved, the list would mark a major shift in how reading materials are selected in Texas classrooms. Book lists are usually decided by individual teachers, schools or districts. This proposal would create a common statewide list for more than 5 million public school students.
The proposed list comes after a 2023 state law required Texas education officials to select at least one literary work for each grade level. The State Board of Education went further, outlining multiple texts for students across kindergarten through 12th grade.
The list includes roughly 200 works and excerpts. Elementary students would read books such as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle and “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. Older students would read works including “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, “The Inferno” by Dante Alighieri and “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.”
Supporters say the list is meant to strengthen reading skills, restore rigor and expose students to classic literature that has shaped history, government and culture.
Education leaders have also pointed to declining reading scores and concerns that students are reading fewer full books in class and at home. Some argue that requiring full works is especially important as students spend more time with technology and artificial intelligence tools.
Bible Excerpts Spark Church-State Debate
The most controversial part of the proposal is the inclusion of Bible passages in most grade levels, beginning in late elementary school.
Students could be assigned excerpts from books such as Luke, Ecclesiastes, Job and First Corinthians. In some cases, the Bible passages would be paired with literary themes. For example, a passage on love from First Corinthians could be taught alongside Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in 12th grade.
Texas education officials and conservative supporters argue the Bible can be taught as literature and as a historical text, not as religious instruction. They say biblical references are important for understanding American history, Western literature and cultural traditions.
Critics see it differently. Civil liberties groups, religious leaders, parents and some educators argue that the list gives preference to Christianity and risks violating the separation of church and state.
“The government of Texas, let alone any American government body, should never be in the business of imposing one religion on everyone,” Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said.
Rabbi David Segal, who works with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, also raised concerns before the board, saying the list appears to favor evangelical Christian versions of the Bible, including the King James Version.
Critics Say the List Lacks Diversity
Beyond the religious debate, the proposed list has drawn criticism for leaning heavily on older works, many written by white and male authors.
That concern is especially pointed in Texas, where more than half of public school students are Hispanic or Black. Some educators say students should see more authors who reflect the state’s racial, cultural and regional diversity.
Markesha Tisby, president of the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, questioned whether teachers would still have enough space to select books that fit their students and communities.
“Texas is extremely large,” Tisby said, “and very diverse.”
Critics have also noted that the list includes few Texas authors and few contemporary books, particularly at the high school level. Some widely taught books, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Great Gatsby” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” are not on the proposed list.
What Happens Next
The State Board of Education is expected to take a final vote this week. If approved, the list would be required in Texas public schools by the 2030 school year.
Teachers would still be allowed to assign books outside the required list, but they would have to make room for those selections after covering the state-mandated texts.
The debate now centers on a larger question: who should decide what Texas students read — local teachers and schools, or the state?
For supporters, the list offers students a shared foundation in classic literature and historical texts. For opponents, it raises concerns about religious preference, limited representation and how much control the state should have over classroom reading.
Either way, the decision could shape what a generation of Texas students reads before they graduate.
