Texas Board Supports Optional Bible Lessons in K-5 Schools

The Texas Board of Education has preliminarily approved a proposal to incorporate Bible lessons into public school curricula for kindergarten through fifth grade, with a final vote scheduled for Friday. The decision, passed by an 8-7 vote, offers schools an additional $60 per student if they adopt the curriculum. Critics argue that the material disproportionately emphasizes Christianity, potentially violating the separation of church and state. The proposal has sparked debate, with testimony from 150 individuals and opposition from groups like the Texas Freedom Network and Texas AFT, who express concerns over religious imbalance and academic freedom.