Religion row as Texas makes Bible stories required reading in schools

The Texas State Board of Education recently approved a new statewide reading list that will require public school students to read Bible stories as part of their curriculum, with implementation beginning in 2030. This decision, finalized on June 26, 2026, makes Texas the first state to mandate the inclusion of direct religious texts in its required literary curriculum, affecting over 5 million students.

This move has ignited significant debate, with critics arguing it breaches the constitutional separation of church and state, lacks literary and religious diversity, and unfairly prioritizes Christianity over other faiths. Conversely, proponents assert that Judeo-Christian traditions are integral to the nation's origins and should therefore be represented in public education. The new requirement is part of a broader push in Texas to incorporate more religion into classrooms, building on a 2023 state law and following other initiatives like mandating the display of the Ten Commandments.