On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the State Board of Education (SBOE) heard public testimony on the state’s new, Bible-infused elementary school reading curriculum. An overwhelming majority of the 100+ parents, grandparents, educators, and advocates who testified showed strong opposition, urging the board to reject the materials. It was a powerful showing for the religious freedom of Texas students! ✊
In addition to mobilizing testifiers from across the state, TFN hosted a press conference outside the meeting to call on the board to reject the curriculum. “Teaching about the influence of religion in history and culture is an important part of a well-rounded education, but you can’t turn public schools into Sunday schools,” said Carisa Lopez, deputy director of TFN.
Now, will the conservative-dominated SBOE do their duty as elected officials and actually listen to the will of their constituents? We’ll have to see. TFN is here to bring you the highlights (and lowlights) with your SBOE Rundown.
Extra! Extra! Elected Leader Complains About Having to Listen to Constituents
Just 8 testifiers into what ended up being 8 full hours of public comments, Republican SBOE member Audrey Young interrupted to complain about having to hear “the same thing over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.” She brought up a board rule allowing the chair to censor “repetitious testimony.” She continued to regularly interrupt testifiers, including TFN’s own Senior Organizing Strategist Emerald Belmarez.
Board member Marisa Pérez-Díaz (D) kindly reminded member Young that it’s their responsibility to “listen to the people who took the time to be here.” Member Staci Childs (D) then made the motion to suspend the rule cited by Young. Her motion passed 6-5, allowing all testifiers to be heard. 🎉
More Meeting Malarkey
- SBOE Chair Aaron Kinsey (R) claimed the process of developing the curriculum has been “transparent.” But as multiple testifiers reminded the board, the state still refuses to tell Texans who actually wrote the lessons. What we do know is that one of the subcontractors associated with the curriculum is the extreme-right Texas Public Policy Foundation. Moreover, the curriculum’s advisory board is stocked with conservative politicians and political operatives who helped develop Project 2025, the radical blueprint for a second Trump administration.
- SBOE Member Tom Maynard (R) challenged Nancy Kasten, a highly respected rabbi who spoke at TFN’s press conference, on how to interpret religious texts. In a superhuman showing of restraint, she reminded him that people of faith interpret and understand religious texts in different ways.
- Austin Kinghorn from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office bizarrely defended the controversial curriculum by telling SBOE members that the Constitution doesn’t protect people from being offended. Yes, this is the same AG’s office that supports people banning books they don’t like.
You can’t make this stuff up, folks.
What’s that? A glimmer of hope from Republican members?
A couple of Republican board members indicated some concern about the curriculum turning public schools into Sunday schools. But MAGA board member Julie Pickren dug her heels in and insisted that she’s received 12,000 emails in support of the curriculum — although it should be known that she doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to… well… the truth.
You can count on TFN to hold these members and others accountable as we approach the November meeting.
What happens next?
The fight continues! The board is scheduled to vote on approving or rejecting the curriculum at its November 19-22 meeting. Please save the date, follow us on Instagram, and sign up for our Teach the Truth emails so that we can update you and send you advocacy opportunities.
Public schools are NOT Sunday schools! We’ll be there in November to pressure the SBOE to reject this harmful curriculum, and we hope you will, too.
