Key Facts

• The Texas State Board of Education, controlled by Republicans, approved the new reading list on Friday.
• More than 5 million Texas public school students will be required to read Bible stories alongside traditional literary works.
• Bible stories include passages from the New Testament and the Book of Job, with different selections for elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• The new reading list also includes well-known books such as "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White and "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens.
• The required reading list will start being phased in with elementary students in 2030.
• Critics say the requirement blurs the line between church and state and lacks diversity, while supporters say it reflects the nation’s Christian heritage.
• Texas allows other Christian-related activities in public schools, like hiring chaplains and displaying the Ten Commandments.
• The Texas law requires at least one literary work per grade, but this list contains about 200 texts, including Bible passages, exceeding that requirement.