Texas education officials are proposing a new required reading list for public schools that would include Bible passages, alongside classics like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "A Wrinkle in Time." The Texas State Board of Education will vote on these changes this week, representing a shift toward U.S. and Texas-centric education with diminished emphasis on world history.

Critics argue the reading list lacks representation of Hispanic and Black authors despite these students comprising the majority of Texas's 5.4 million public school children. Democratic board member Marisa Pérez-Díaz noted this "mass lack of representation" as the board considers two proposals, one with fewer books overall and Bible texts starting in elementary school.

The proposals reflect a broader Republican effort to emphasize Christianity in American founding narratives, with President Trump investing $150 million in history and civics education. This approach has drawn criticism from historians who worry it promotes American exceptionalism while neglecting global perspectives that students need in an interconnected world.