Breaking! Attack on Bible Fails at Texas Education Board

Austin, TX  – November 19, 2024  – Today, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) took a vote on whether to reject the Bluebonnet Learning English Language Arts materials that have come under attack because of their references to the Bible. A slim majority of members voted “no” on removing the Bluebonnet Learning materials from the approved list of materials, with a few members saying that the biblical references provided cultural literacy. The vote was 7 members in favor of removing Bluebonnet Learning, and 8 members opposed.

Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations for Texas Values, said:

“We are pleased to see that the SBOE will protect students’ First Amendment right to learn about the Bible in a literary and historical context. We hope that the SBOE solidifies this vote on Friday. The Bible has had a colossal impact on the Western world in art, history, and literature that cannot be ignored. Banning the Bible in the classroom would not just deny students their liberty but also take away an opportunity for a well-rounded education.”

The SBOE will take a final vote on the materials Friday. Members of the Texas Values team held a press conference before the meeting on Monday and also provided public testimony in favor of the Bluebonnet materials.

Texas Values has been active in work at the Texas State Board of Education for over a decade. In the past, Texas Values has successfully fought for keeping religious references such as Moses and the 10 commandments in the state standards. 

The Texas Values policy team are available for comment. To schedule an interview, please contact Ashley at media@txvalues.org or 737-314-2450 (m). 

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About Texas Values 

Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.