Texas becomes first state to make Bible required reading

(The Center Square) – After several days of hearings and votes, the Texas State Board of Education voted late Friday to require a reading list for every grade level in public schools, including at least 200 Biblical texts.

Texas is now the first state to require public school students to read passages of the Bible as mandatory curriculum.

There are roughly 5.5 million students enrolled in Texas public schools, or roughly 11% of the total U.S. public school population.

The school board is composed of 15 members; 10 are Republicans. The majority have never been public school educators, The Center Square reported.

The mandatory reading list has been controversial as has been the SBOE’s attempt to overhaul state standards to transform how social studies is taught. The overhaul has received extensive backlash, including from educators, The Center Square Read Entire Article