The Texas State Board of Education took a key vote today on adopting a new statewide curriculum

that would incorporate biblical teachings into the state's public schools.

William Brangham has more.

In an 8-7 vote, Texas school board officials approved these new course materials.

Called Blue Bonnet Learning, parts of these materials include religious lessons that critics say undermine religious freedom and could isolate non-Christian students.

Lesson plans as early as kindergarten highlight Christian religious teachings like Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

This new curriculum in Texas follows Republican-led efforts in other neighboring states

to similarly give Christianity a stronger presence in public schools.

Following this all closely is Jaden Edison.

He's the education reporter for the Texas Tribune.

Jaden Edison is so good to have you on the program.

So this measure passes today.

When could this curriculum get rolled out?

And do schools have to adopt it?

Yeah.

So in our conversation with education officials earlier this year, it was made clear that

if approved by the State Board of Education, which is what happened today, then the materials will become available as early as spring

2025, right, which is early next year. And then from there, obviously, you know, school districts

within order the materials and they would be available for usage as soon as the 25, 26 school year.

And so, you know, to the question of, you know,

whether or not they're required, it is optional, right? But if school districts adopt those

materials, they will receive up to a $60 per student incentive to purchase the textbooks and

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