State Board of Education Approves New Biblical Curriculum

On June 26, the Texas State Board of Education voted to approve massive changes to social studies curriculum for public school students. The changes, which will take effect starting in 2030, include adding certain Bible stories into required reading lists.

The new changes will also dramatically impact subjects like history, government, and economics. A sixth-grade course about world history will be eliminated. United States and Texas history will receive more of a focus.

The changing school curriculum passed in the state board on a 9-4 party-line vote, with two members not present. There are 15 State Board of Education members who are elected either to two- or four-year terms. Currently, there are 15 Republican members. Eight seats on the board will be up for re-election in November.

Ahead of the vote last week, hundreds of Texans testified both for and against the new curriculum. State Rep. Salman Bhojani urged the SBOE to pause the whole process and noted that the new reading lists fail to represent the diverse student body of Texas.

Bhojani was also one of 46 Texas Democratic State and Senate members who signed a letter to the SBOE expressing concern for the social studies overhaul. The members alleged that several content advisors working on the new curriculum have financial conflicts of interest as they are also affiliated with a conservative think tank.

On his Twitter page, Governor Abbott posted a local story about the new social studies curriculum including Bible stories.

The Houston Chronicle has a full list of the required reading, including the proposed new Bible stories. The stories start with Jonah and the whale in first grade and go up to the first book of Corinthians in senior year.