The Alarming Rise of Book Bans in Texas Between July 2021 and December 2023, more than 1,500 books were banned in public schools across Texas, with 141 more banned in the 2023-2024 fall semester alone. This surge in censorship follows the implementation of HB 900, also known as the READER Act, a purposely vague state […]
Education
Texas has an increasingly diverse public education system with a public school enrollment of more than 5 million. Unfortunately, that public education system is also the target of right-wing extremists seeking to privatize our neighborhood public schools and push a culture-war agenda in the classroom.
To that end, Texas Freedom Network tirelessly fights for Texas public school students at the Capitol — opposing private school voucher legislation, sticking up for students’ freedoms, advocating for truthful, censorship-free lessons and textbooks, and more. We’ve also conducted groundbreaking research into what is taught in classrooms on subjects like sex education and religion.
Resources
- Teach the Truth: Texans United Against Censorship in Education
- Can This Class Be Saved? The ‘Hobby Lobby’ Public School Bible Curriculum (2014 report)
- Reading, Writing & Religion II (2013 report)
- Sex Education in Public Schools: Progress in the Lone Star State (2011 report)
- Just Say Don’t Know: Sex Education in Texas Public Schools (2009 report)
- The State Board of Education: Dragging Texas Schools into the Culture Wars (2008 report)
- Reading Writing & Religion: Teaching the Bible in Texas Public Schools (2006 report)
- Broken Promises II (2001 report)
- Broken Promises: Charter Schools in Texas (2000 report)
Public Schools ≠ Sunday Schools! Your September 2024 SBOE Rundown
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. […]
Advocates, Scholars Call for Texas SBOE to Reject Religiously Slanted Reading Curriculum for Texas Public Schools
Scholars and advocates from a wide array of religious and grassroots organizations today called on the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject a Bible-infused, state-developed reading curriculum for Texas grade school students. […]
Public Schools Are NOT Sunday Schools
Public schools are not Sunday schools! We’ve been telling the religious right in Texas this for almost 30 years. […]
New Texas Freedom Network Report Exposes How Proposed Texas Reading Curriculum Crosses The Line From Religious Literacy To Proselytizing
Texas Freedom Network Education Fund has launched a report examining a Texas Bible-infused curriculum for K-5 students. […]