**Texas Officials to Vote on New Bible-Infused Curriculum for Elementary Schools**

Texas education officials are slated to make a pivotal decision on Monday regarding the adoption of a novel curriculum for elementary schools that weaves Biblical teachings into reading and language arts lessons. This optional curriculum represents one of the most extensive recent attempts to incorporate a Christian viewpoint into public education.

The initiative can potentially set a precedent for other states and the forthcoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has vowed to support the conservative Christian movement in his second term. Texas continues to be at the forefront of the movement to increasingly integrate religion into public spheres. Notably, it was the first state to permit the hiring of religious chaplains as school counselors in public schools. The state's Republican-majority legislature also plans to again push for legislation mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public-school classrooms.

The proposed curriculum spans kindergarten through fifth grade and, while optional for school districts, includes financial incentives for adoption. The Texas State Board of Education, responsible for establishing educational standards and approving curriculums, will guide this decision. Individual schools and districts then select which approved curriculums to implement.

With approximately 2.3 million public-school students in kindergarten through fifth grade across Texas, the potential reach of this new curriculum is substantial. As Texas takes this crucial vote, the outcome could significantly influence the landscape of public education both within the state and nationally.