Public school students in Texas are set to commence studying selected biblical texts as part of a new statewide reading programme approved by the Texas State Board of Education.

The decision comes after Texas introduced another controversial education policy in 2025 that requires the 10 Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms.

The mandatory programme was approved by the Republican-led State Board of Education and enacted by a 9-5 vote, with one Republican voting against it following weeks of contentious deliberations.

The policy introduces a diverse array of selected Bible texts into classrooms starting in 2030, beginning with elementary schools in the state.

School and education administrators are required to create a list of literary works for different grade levels, and the board later expanded the requirement so that students at each grade level benefit from the programme. This follows the state legislation passed in 2023.

Notable biblical passages and stories from the Old and New Testaments have been included in the curriculum, with seventh-grade students studying the Book of Jonah and the Book of Psalms, and high school students studying passages such as the books of Genesis and Lamentations.

The new law will also permit public schools to hire chaplains and counsellors to provide guidance and support to students.

The new education policy has drawn widespread controversy in a state with a large and diverse student population. The compulsory inclusion of Christian passages in public education has raised concerns that Christianity could have a greater influence than other religions.

It has also raised concerns about the programme’s impact on teachers’ freedom and ability to make independent decisions during the school year, with members of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association describing it as a “potential loss of teacher autonomy”.

On the other hand, supporters have defended the decision, saying that the biblical literature serves an important role in reflecting the influence of Judeo-Christian values on American history and culture.

Texas’s public education sector educates about 10 per cent of public school students in the United States, and state legislation influences broader education decisions.