Texas Wants to Make Bible Passages Required Reading in Public Schools
The big picture: The Texas State Board of Education is considering proposals to make Bible passages required reading starting as early as elementary school, while narrowing history classes to focus on U.S. and Texas-centered content. This is happening in a state where 66% of public school students are Hispanic or Black, where literacy scores are declining, and where research shows diverse reading lists actually improve outcomes.
Why it matters: Even the CLT’s own website says “teachers will teach towards the test.” The same applies to required reading lists. If Bible passages become mandatory, classrooms will be shaped around them — giving students from Christian backgrounds a structural advantage in a state where two-thirds of students don’t share that background. The party pushing this has spent years accusing the other side of classroom indoctrination.
The proposals: Two reading lists under consideration. The first requires middle and high schoolers to read Bible passages (David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale). The second requires Bible readings starting in elementary school (Noah’s Ark, Moses and the Exodus). History classes would emphasize U.S. and Texas history. The Bible is already optional for Texas English teachers. These proposals would make it required.
The movement: Part of a national “classical education” push from Republicans. The Trump administration has put $150M+ into history and civics education supporting this direction while pulling back from DEI. Conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Mandy Drogin: “Islam and Buddhism didn’t found the West.” She says Judeo-Christian values are “central to America’s story and culture.”
The demographics: Hispanic and Black students make up 66% of Texas public schools. Hispanic students have been the majority for over a decade. Board member Tiffany Clark: “Texas is not one religion or one race, so the authors on this book list need to resemble the makeup of our students across the state.”
The research: Studies show diverse books increase reading scores and student engagement. 75%+ of both Republicans and Democrats support instruction on patriotism AND the contributions of women and people of color. 40% of fourth graders read at “below basic” level. Senior reading scores at historic lows. Functional illiteracy reduces political engagement and critical thinking.
The competitiveness question: Historians ask: “Do we want the next generation of Texas students competing in a global economy never having really learned very much about China?” Experts warn this approach leaves students with less experience and fewer opportunities in an increasingly global workforce.
By the numbers:
66% — Hispanic and Black students in Texas public schools
40% — fourth graders reading at “below basic” level
75%+ — Republicans AND Democrats who support teaching patriotism alongside diverse contributions
$150M+ — Trump administration investment in this education direction
0 — peer-reviewed studies supporting the CLT that feeds the same movement
The bottom line: Imagine if the Quran were being pushed as required reading. We’d be having a very different conversation. From the party that’s spent years accusing the left of indoctrinating children, this is ideology — it’s just their ideology. Required Bible passages in a state where two-thirds of students aren’t white, where literacy is declining, and where the research says diverse reading lists actually improve outcomes. The students who pay the price are the ones who can least afford to fall further behind.
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