The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit narrowly upheld Texas' Ten Commandments law in a 9-to-8 decision, reversing lower court rulings that had blocked the mandate. The law requires public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, with specific size requirements of at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.

Since Governor Greg Abbott signed the law in 2025, families of various faith backgrounds have challenged it as state endorsement of religion. The court ruled the measure doesn't violate the separation of church and state or restrict parents' rights to direct their children's religious upbringing. Attorney General Ken Paxton had encouraged districts to comply despite lower court injunctions.

Fifteen Texas families represented by legal organizations plan to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing the ruling tramples First Amendment principles. The decision comes amid similar conservative efforts in other states, with Louisiana's comparable law now cleared for enforcement. Teachers like Lena Lee in Keller, Texas, have expressed disappointment, continuing to display diverse faith-based materials in defiance of the mandate.