The Texas Tribune reports that “an initial review of the proposed state textbooks show that religious materials feature prominently, with texts sourced from the Bible as the most heavily used.”

These revisions align with the state’s Republican platform in which they “urge the Legislature and the State Board of Education to require instruction on the Bible, servant leadership, and Christian self-governance.”

Will you take action in support of the separation of church and state, and let Governor Abbott know that we live in a democracy, not a theocracy?

1. Submit public comment on the revised curriculum here.
2. Contact Governor Abbott here and email Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath at [email protected],  You can use/revise this sample letter. 
3. Email the entire State Board of Educators at [email protected]. Their emails can be found here. 

The new curriculum includes a a 3rd grade unit on Ancient Rome, the Teacher’s Guide includes 94 references to Jesus.  When older students learn about Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech,” they will be required to read a passage from the Bible alongside it.

The teacher’s guide for a second grade unit asks students to analyze religious themes in the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The sample response states, “Answers may vary but could include the following: Jesus made a huge sacrifice and died to save us. The Union soldiers were also making sacrifices to end slavery and bring the Country together.”

While districts may opt out of the curriculum if it is approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in the fall, they will lose a $60 per-student incentive. All this while Governor Abbott continues to promote the harmful Houston ISD state takeover and his voucher scheme in which he held $5 billion in school funding hostage in the 2023 Legislative Session.

Email the State Board of Education Members and the governor today today [Link to emails]. 

The Governor is behind this bad policy. The State Board of Education, with your help, can stop it.

Saturday, June 8th. CVPE General Meeting at Trinity Gardens Church of Christ, 12:30 -2:30pm with informative micro sessions and breakouts including the bond, 

Thursday, June 13th at 5 pm. Speak at the last HISD board of managers meeting. Bring your whole family to engage in our First Amendment right to protest.

Saturday, July 13th. CVPE Summer Conference: Uncloaking Inequity. 8:30-3:30 pm. Tickets are $20 and $5 for students and those who need sliding scale. Our keynote speaker is Civil Rights and public education scholar Julian Vasquez Heilig. Buy your ticket at houstoncvpe.org/forum2024.