Texas SBOE Approves K-8 Bible Readings, History Standards for 2030-31 Rollout

3 articles · Updated · Community Impact · Jun 26

K-8 Texas classrooms will begin using the new standards in 2030-31, with first graders assigned Bible passages starting with Jonah and the Whale and later grades reading 12 biblical texts overall.
The package also expands Texas and U.S. history requirements while reducing some emphasis on world cultures and race, including removing language on slavery’s central role in the Civil War.
Party-line votes largely carried the changes: all Democrats and one Republican opposed the reading list, while critics said the workload could consume 77% to 142% of a school year and sideline diverse perspectives.
The standards will feed into state testing, and the board delayed decisions on four high school courses until September while still revising other specialized classes.
The vote extends Texas’ broader push to increase religion in public schools after Bible-heavy state textbooks, a Ten Commandments classroom-posters law and a 2025 law allowing school-day prayer or religious reading.

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Community Impact21d ago

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PBS NewsHour20d ago

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33 Sources

What happens when one reading list shapes the minds of five million students?

Can schools teach the Bible as literature without promoting religion?

Texas Poised to Require Bible Readings in Public Schools: State Board’s Pivotal Vote on June 27, 2026

Overview

The Texas State Board of Education is set to vote on June 27, 2026, on a proposal that would require Bible passages and stories—mainly from the King James Bible and evangelical translations—as mandatory reading in public schools. This decision will affect over 5 million students, with the new curriculum planned for elementary grades starting in the 2030-31 school year. Supporters believe this will help students understand Christianity’s influence on U.S. history, while critics worry it favors specific Christian interpretations and could lead to legal challenges. The move marks a significant shift in how reading materials are chosen for Texas schools.

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