Issue explainer

Religion in Public Schools: Ten Commandments, Prayer Periods and Bible Lessons

Texas passed laws in 2025 requiring the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom and letting school boards adopt a daily prayer and Bible reading period. A full federal appeals court upheld the Ten Commandments law 9 to 8 in April 2026, and challengers have asked the Supreme Court to hear the case. Voters disagree about where the line between religious freedom and government endorsement of religion should be.

The basics

The First Amendment bars government from establishing religion and protects the free exercise of religion. Courts have long had to decide how those two promises apply in public schools.

In 1980, in Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court struck down a Kentucky law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms¹. More recently the Court dropped the older test used in that era, and lower courts now look to history and tradition instead¹.

On April 21, 2026, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld Texas Senate Bill 10 by a 9 to 8 vote in Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District¹. The majority said the law looks nothing like a historical establishment of religion and does not require students to recite or study the text¹. The dissent said Stone v. Graham is still binding until the Supreme Court overrules it¹.

The families who challenged the law filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to review the case, docketed as No. 26-257². As of September 2026 the petition is pending, and Texas's response is due October 28, 2026².

Key terms

Establishment Clause: The part of the First Amendment that bars government from establishing a religion. The challengers to SB 10 argue the law violates it¹.
Stone v. Graham: A 1980 Supreme Court decision that struck down a Kentucky law requiring classroom Ten Commandments displays¹.
En banc: A case heard by all active judges of an appeals court rather than a three judge panel. The Fifth Circuit decided the SB 10 case en banc¹.
Bluebonnet Learning: State-developed K-5 reading and language arts materials that include Bible stories. They are optional for districts, with a $60 per student incentive⁵.

In Texas

SB 10, signed on June 20, 2025, and effective September 1, 2025, requires each public school classroom to display a durable poster or framed copy of a specified text of the Ten Commandments at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall³⁴. Schools without them must accept privately donated copies that meet the rules³.

SB 11, also signed on June 20, 2025, lets a school board adopt, by record vote, a policy giving students and employees a period for prayer and reading the Bible or other religious texts⁶⁷. Participation requires signed consent from a parent or the employee, and the period may not replace instruction or use the public address system⁶. Every board had to hold a vote within six months of the law taking effect⁶. In Tarrant County, Keller and Aledo adopted a prayer period, while Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Mansfield, Arlington and others voted no; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD administrators recommended against adopting one before the board's February 23, 2026, vote⁸.

In November 2024 the State Board of Education approved the Bluebonnet Learning materials by an 8 to 7 vote⁵.

How people see it

The strongest case for each view, in terms its supporters would recognize. We don't pick a side.

Keep government out of religion

Supporters say public schools serve families of every faith and none, and the state should not pick religious texts for children. They argue required displays and state-built Bible lessons pressure students, divide classrooms and should be left to families and houses of worship.

Protect student-led expression only

Many say students already have strong rights to pray, read scripture and form religious clubs on their own. They support those rights but oppose the government posting or organizing religious content.

Let local boards decide

Others prefer local control. They say each community should decide whether to adopt a prayer period or optional materials like Bluebonnet, as SB 11 lets school boards do.

Support Texas's laws

Supporters say the Ten Commandments are a foundation of American law and moral tradition, and posting them teaches history without forcing anyone to believe. They see the voluntary, consent-based prayer period as a way to restore room for faith in schools.

Expand faith in schools

Some want more, such as prayer periods in every district and wider use of Bible-based lessons. They argue decades of court rulings wrongly pushed religion out of public life and that the new legal test allows it.

Who decides

U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts: Decide what the First Amendment allows. A petition on SB 10 is pending at the Supreme Court.
Texas Legislature and Governor: Passed SB 10 and SB 11 and set school funding incentives.
State Board of Education: Approves instructional materials such as Bluebonnet Learning.
Local school boards: Vote on whether to adopt a prayer period and which reading materials to use.

Questions to ask a candidate

Do you support the requirement to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom?
Should school boards offer a daily prayer and Bible reading period?
Should the state encourage districts to use Bible-infused reading lessons?
How would you protect students of different faiths, or no faith?

Last reviewed 2026-09-26. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources

Fifth Circuit clears path for Ten Commandments in Texas classroomsCourthouse News Service
Docket No. 26-257, Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School DistrictSupreme Court of the United States
SB 10 enrolled text, 89th LegislatureTexas Legislature Online
Bill history: SB 10, 89th LegislatureTexas Legislature Online
TX Board of Education approves Bible-infused lesson plansFOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
SB 11 enrolled text, 89th LegislatureTexas Legislature Online
Bill history: SB 11, 89th LegislatureTexas Legislature Online
Trustees to address Texas Legislature's designated prayer period for public schoolsFort Worth Report