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FACT BRIEF

Is Oklahoma the first state to require the Bible in all public school curricula?

By Sue Bin Park
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YES

On June 27, 2024, Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters issued a directive requiring all public schools to broadly integrate the Christian Bible into core subjects such as history, math, and science.

Legal experts note that Oklahoma’s mandate, which requires Bible integration into non-elective subjects, sets a new precedent in the national effort to introduce Christian elements in schools.

Several states allow public schools to offer elective courses on Biblical content, while a June 2024 law passed in Louisiana requires the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. In Texas, public schools that incorporate certain state-approved curricula, including Christian subjects, are incentivized with additional funding.

Opponents argue such measures violate the separation of church and state, as protected by the First Amendment. Multiple Oklahoma school districts have indicated they have no plans to alter their curricula in response to Walters' mandate. Current state law gives each school district curriculum control.

See a full discussion of this at Oklahoma Watch
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
The New York Times The Bible in Public Schools? Oklahoma Pushes Limits of Long Tradition.
AP News New law requires all Louisiana public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments
The Texas Tribune Some Texas school officials are skeptical that a K-12 curriculum with Christian influences is the lifeline state leaders promise
NPR Oklahoma schools resist the order to teach from the Bible in classrooms
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Oklahoma Watch
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation that produces in-depth and investigative journalism as a public service for the benefit of all Oklahomans. Through investigative, fact-driven journalism, we dig deep and examine significant issues facing our state. Our work engages all Oklahomans, amplifies the discussion of important issues and leads to change. We help develop the journalists and journalism of the future.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.