Proposed reading list for Texas students draws concern over religious themes, lack of diversity
Source: AP
Updated 1:45 PM EST, January 29, 2026
The Texas State Board of Education delayed voting on a proposed list of required books for K-12 students Wednesday night after hours discussing the reading materials’ religious focus and hearing public concerns about a lack of racial, ethnic and gender diversity. Voting 13-1, the board delayed consideration until its April meetings to allow members time to consider the list and solicit feedback. Brandon Hall, a North Texas Republican board member, opposed the decision.
A 2023 state law required the Texas Education Agency to create a list of reading materials for the board to consider, with schools required to teach the materials beginning in the 2030-31 school year. The agency recommended nearly 300 books for consideration, though the law only required at least one literary work in each grade.
The list includes childhood favorites and classical literature across a range of genres — from Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat to S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders — while also incorporating religious materials with a Christian focus, like The Parable of the Prodigal Son and The Road to Damascus.
The presence of religious literature was the source of frustration Wednesday among several Democratic board members and Texans who testified. They argued that an emphasis on Christianity and not other religiously diverse readings conflicts with the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause, which prevents states from endorsing or promoting a particular religion.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/schools-texas-general-news-7b085497d8b3dbcd10a603fac0a271f7
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