After a majority vote on June 26, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) approved a mandatory reading list that all public K12 schools will be required to follow.
The list stems from House Bill 1605, which was passed in 2023 and required at least one literary work to be taught at each grade level. The new list contains roughly 200 texts, including many biblical stories and scriptures. The policy will apply to more than 5 million students, and with Texas having one of the largest K12 systems, that means one in ten students nationwide will be influenced by the new list.
According to the SBOE, under the new standards, students in first through third grade will read stories such as Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, and Daniel and the Lion’s Den, which will be read aloud from picture books. Older students in fourth to eighth grade will read and study passages, including the Book of Lamentations, Chapter 3, and Exodus 3 and 14. High school students will also participate in the list, including passages like the Parable of the Prodigal Son and selections from the Book of Job.
The state’s decision comes during a larger push in Texas to bring religion into public schools. In 2023, House Bill 5 was passed, allowing districts to place chaplains on campuses. In addition, Senate Bill 10 was passed in 2025, requiring that every public elementary and secondary school display the Ten Commandments in the classroom. Although both of these laws were passed, they are currently being challenged in court and are not currently enforced statewide, additionally according to the SBOE, the state’s new mandatory reading list will not be implemented until 2030.
While students who practice different religions will be protected by the First Amendment, and Texas law does allow parents to temporarily remove their children from lessons that conflict with their beliefs, schools will still require students to meet grade-level academic standards. This means that although students can be excused from lessons, they could still be tested on the material.
With Texas being the first state to implement a statewide required reading list that includes Bible passages, it is no surprise that it is becoming a point of contention for many. Supporters say the texts are included for their historical and literary value, while critics argue that including religious scripture in public school instruction raises concerns about the separation of church and state.
For state-level questions, contact the State Board of Education at sboesupport@sboe.texas.gov; for local questions, you can contact your local school district’s main office.