HOUSTON, Texas – A heated debate is unfolding in Texas as the state education board prepares to vote on a proposed curriculum that would incorporate Bible teachings into elementary school classrooms. The controversial proposal, which affects the 2.3 million public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade, would include Bible stories in reading and language arts textbooks.
The Texas State Board of Education is expected to take a final vote on the issue Monday. While school districts would not be mandated to adopt the curriculum, there is a financial incentive: districts that choose to implement the new curriculum would receive $60 in state funding per student.
The proposal has sparked significant debate. In September, education officials listened to hours of testimony both supporting and opposing the integration of Bible teachings into public school materials. As a result of the public outcry, the textbooks have been amended to remove some of the contentious references.
Legal experts are divided on the issue. Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law, explained that recent court rulings have shifted the approach to the separation of church and state. “Unless you coerce a student to engage in religion, you’re probably in the okay,” he said, referencing a change in the interpretation of constitutional guidelines.
If approved, the new curriculum could be available for school districts to implement as early as next August.