The Texas State Board of Education has approved a mandated reading list for public school students that includes Bible stories alongside classic literature, marking a notable expansion of Christian teachings within the state’s education system. The list, which will apply to the more than five million students in Texas public schools beginning in 2030, was adopted in a 9-5 vote by the Republican-controlled board on June 23.

The state-mandated curriculum includes about 200 works, featuring excerpts from the New Testament as well as literary classics such as Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations” and Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Religious texts are integrated at various grade levels, with elementary students reading picture-book Bible stories like “David and Goliath” and “Daniel and the Lion’s Den,” while middle school and high school students encounter New Testament passages, including the Sermon on the Mount. The list also mandates reading works viewed as reflecting conservative American values, such as a eulogy for President Ronald Reagan written by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The policy follows previous measures by the state that have increased the presence of religion in public education, including a 2022 law requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom and the allowance of school chaplains to provide counseling. Texas has also authorized an optional Bible-infused social studies curriculum that connects biblical stories to American history.

Proponents argue that incorporating Judeo-Christian texts reflects foundational influences on the nation’s history and values. Mandy Drogin, a senior fellow at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, described the mandated reading as “timeless works” that offer lessons about "human nature, virtue, liberty, and civic responsibility." Supporters, including some parents attending education board meetings, voiced support for what they see as recognition of America’s Christian heritage.

However, the move has drawn criticism from educators and advocacy groups concerned about the implications for religious diversity and academic freedom. Alyse Dent, a high school English teacher in the Dallas area, expressed reservations about mandating Bible stories for a student body with diverse religious beliefs, emphasizing the challenge of teaching biblical content sensitively in a pluralistic classroom. Antero Garcia, president of the National Council of Teachers of English and a Stanford professor, noted that no other state has adopted a similar mandatory reading list containing religious texts, highlighting this as a unique development in Texas.

Some teachers also criticized the lack of diversity in the reading list, describing it as heavily focused on older, predominantly white Western authors that do not fully represent the diverse student population across Texas. Chanea Bond, an educator in Fort Worth, called the list “very narrow” and argued it sends a message that only certain voices are valued in public education.

Texas law permits parents to exempt their children from classes or activities that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs. Despite the criticism, the board’s vote signals a continued push by conservative lawmakers and interest groups to integrate religious themes more prominently into public school curricula in the nation’s second-largest state.