Texas Board of Education Allows Bible-Based Curriculum in Elementary Schools

The Texas Board of Education on Friday adopted a new rule that will allow Bible-based curriculum to be taught in elementary schools as early as the next school year.

The rule, which was approved by an 8-7 vote, follows efforts by Texas’ neighbors Louisiana and Oklahoma to include more religion in public schools. Louisiana’s efforts are aimed at publicly displaying the Ten Commandments in school classrooms, and the Oklahoma Department of Education has ordered a copy of the Bible in every public classroom.

The new rule does not require Texas elementary schools to use a Bible-based curriculum, but the schools would receive additional government funding if they did so, NBC News reported.

Although the rule was adopted by the Board of Education, critics believe it will still be challenged in court.

“If a parent or teacher who didn’t feel comfortable teaching this took it to court, I think they would be successful,” said Board of Education member Stacey Childs, who voted against the rule. “In good conscience, in defense of my attorney license, I simply do not feel that these materials still reflect the experiences and nuances of Texas students.”

Advocates for change emphasized the role that Christianity and the Bible played in American history. The new curriculum will also draw on other religions that have influenced the United States, but the Bible plays the largest role.

“They say there are about 300 everyday phrases that actually come from the Bible,” said Mary Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values. “So it will be helpful for students to understand many of these references that are in the literature and be able to understand them.”

Misty Savery is the evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.