The state’s board of education greenlit a proposal to add Bible stories to required reading from the second grade onwards.
The Texas Board of Education approved on Friday a new public school reading list that includes stories from the Bible.
Texas is at the forefront of an expanding effort in the United States to include religion in classrooms, as the Longhorn State’s Republican-controlled education body finalized the plan for more than 5 million public school students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Last year, Gov. Greg Abbot signed legislation requiring that the 10 Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. A federal judge blocked the bill in August 2025, and another federal judge ordered Texas school districts about three months later to remove displays of the 10 Commandments.
On April 21, an appeals court upheld the law, but the case could be headed to the Supreme Court.
Texas also allows chaplains to be employed or volunteer at public schools “to provide support, services, and programs for students.”
The state’s reading list has drawn criticism from opponents, who say that the curriculum lacks diversity and favors Christianity over other religions. Supporters say Judeo-Christian principles were key to the country’s founding, and school curriculum should reflect that.
Required Bible story readings for Texas students begin in elementary school.
According to the plan, the account of David and Goliath is the first Bible story students will read in second grade.
Third-graders will read the story of Daniel and the lion’s den.
Grade four is required to read the “Necessity of Humility” from the Gospel of Luke, the plan says. Sections of the Book of Exodus about Moses, including the story of the burning bush and the parting of the Red Sea, are required for fifth graders.
For sixth grade, students are required to read “Do Not Be Anxious” from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6.
The seventh grade reading list includes Psalm 23 (often called “the Shepherd’s psalm”) and the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew.
Ecclesiastes, chapter 3—“To everything there is a season”—and chapter three of the Book of Lamentations is on the eighth graders’ list.
For high schoolers, required readings are spread across four English classes.
By Troy Myers
