Texas may soon require students to read select stories from the Bible as part of their public school curriculum with a vote of the Texas State Board of Education expected on June 26.The proposal includes a list of texts that would be required reading during each grade level in all the state's public schools, and includes Bible stories and verses in grades ranging from elementary to high school. The move has kicked off a polarizing debate over religious freedom and religion in schools.There were over 5.5 million students enrolled in public schools in the state during the 2024-25 school year. Those students already view the Ten Commandments listed in each classroom after a controversial state law requiring them was upheld by a federal appeals court.The State Board of Education, which has a Republican majority, will meet at 9 a.m. local time on June 26 to consider the proposed reading lists in a final vote.These are the Bible stories that could be on Texas reading listsThe proposed reading lists came as a result of a 2023 Texas law requiring the Board of Education to develop vocabulary and reading lists for each grade.The lists include standard literary texts commonly read in public schools, such as "Johnny Appleseed" in second grade, "Charlotte's Web" in third grade, "The Phantom Tollbooth" in fifth grade and "Great Expectations" in high school. There are also works on the nation's Founding Fathers and other historical figures. It also includes Bible verses or adapted Bible stories in many grade levels, with a required version of the Bible from which the passages are to be read.These are some of the required religious texts:Elementary SchoolFirst grade: "Noah's Ark" by Peter SpierSecond grade: "David and Goliath," an excerpt from "The Children’s Book of Heroes" edited by William J. BennettFourth grade: Book of Luke, Chapter 14, Verses 7-11 ("The Necessity of Humility") from the New International Reader’s Version: New TestamentFifth grade: Stories about Moses from the Book of Exodus, Chapter 3 ("The Burning Bush") and the Book of Exodus, Chapter 14 ("The Parting of the Red Sea") from the New International Reader’s Version: Hebrew Bible/Old TestamentMiddle SchoolSixth grade: Book of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 25-34 ("Do Not Be Anxious") from the English Standard Version: New TestamentSeventh grade: Book of Psalms, Chapter 23 ("The Shepherd's Psalm") from the King James Version: Hebrew Bible/Old TestamentSeventh grade: Book of Matthew, Chapter 5 Verses 1-12 ("The Eight Beatitudes") from the King James Version: New TestamentEighth grade: Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 ("To Everything There is a Season") from the King James Version: Hebrew Bible/Old TestamentEighth grade: Book of Lamentations, Chapter 3 from the Tanakh: Jewish Publication Society 1917 editionHigh SchoolBook of Luke, Chapter 15, Verses 11-32 ("Parable of the Prodigal Son") from the English Standard Translation: New TestamentBook of Job, Chapters 1-7,Verses 11, 14, 19, 28, 38-42 from the New International Reader’s Version: Hebrew Bible/Old TestamentBook of Genesis, Chapters 2 and 3 ("Adam and Eve") from the New International Reader’s Version: Hebrew Bible/Old TestamentBook of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13 ("The Definition of Love") from the English Standard Translation: New Testament