(August 28, 2008)—Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Thursday public high schools are not required to offer elective high school Bible courses under a new law the Legislature adopted last year.
The Legislature passed the law last year allowing for Bible courses to be offered as an elective starting in the 2009-2010 school year and it directed the State Board of Education to adopt curriculum standards consistent with the constitutional separation of church and state.
But because of questions about whether a school district was required to offer the class, Education Commissioner Robert Scott asked Abbott for an opinion.
Abbott's office says the new law "authorizes but does not require school districts and charter schools to offer" the Bible course.
Lawmakers adopted the measure with an assurance the class would only focus on the history and literature of the Bible, and not proselytize for or disparage any faith and they also required the attorney general to review the curriculum.
Texas Attorney General’s Web Site
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