The Texas State Board of Education has approved new requirements for public schools, which will include biblical readings and Texas-centered history lessons starting in the 2030-31 school year. The new standards will expand lessons about Texas and American history, while deemphasizing teachings about world cultures and people of color.

Details of the New Requirements

Students will be required to read biblical passages, including the story of Jonah and the Whale in first grade, and excerpts from the Book of Matthew in sixth grade. The list includes 12 biblical readings in total. The new social studies curriculum standards will also expand the amount of content students will be expected to learn each year, with hundreds of required concepts approved for each grade.

Proponents of the new standards have said they will help students learn about American exceptionalism, the role of Christianity in the nation’s founding, and classical literature. However, critics have expressed concerns that the new educational policies do not include perspectives representing Texas’ diverse student population and rely too heavily on Christian perspectives at the expense of other religions and cultures.

Reactions to the New Requirements

Some educators and historians have warned that teachers will not have enough time in the school year to cover all the required content. The new reading list and social studies requirements will be incorporated into Texas’ annual standardized tests, which are administered to public school students in third through 12th grade.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Plano — read the source article.