State-organized school prayer undermines religious freedom by taking the responsibility for religious instruction from congregations and families and giving it to government instead, more than 160 faith leaders said in an open letter to all Texas school board members. The…
Oklahoma Supreme Court invalidates Bible-based standards
Oklahoma’s Bible-based K-12 social studies standards are invalid because the state Board of Education violated open meetings statutes in adopting the curriculum in February, the state Supreme Court ruled Dec. 16. The conservative court ruled 5-4 to permanently revoke the…
Abbott’s reelection plan would ‘eliminate public education,’ Johnson warns
A reelection campaign pledge by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is a further attempt to “eliminate public education,” according to Charles Foster Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children. In announcing his unusual bid for a fourth term as governor…
Embattled Oklahoma schools chief leaving post
Ryan Walters will step down as the superintendent of Oklahoma public schools Oct. 1 to lead a conservative organization founded to oppose teachers’ unions and “the liberal, woke agenda” he claims is polluting American education and values. “For decades, union…
Prof reviews proper and improper uses of Bible in public schools
The Bible has not been banned from public schools, but there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to use it there, a professor told a summit on religion and public education Sept. 16. Mark Chancey, professor of religious studies at Southern…
Bible-teaching group seeks foot in the door of Kentucky public schools
A nonprofit organization created to promote evangelical Christian curriculum to “opt-in” public school children now has its eyes on Kentucky, where Republican legislators earlier this year created a path for religious education during school hours. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed…
Federal judge strikes down Texas Ten Commandments law
The Ten Commandments will not be displayed in Texas public schools after a federal judge blocked the state’s new Ten Commandments law Aug. 20. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio issued a preliminary injunction on Senate Bill…
Facing lawsuit, Trump admin will fund schools
The Trump administration will disburse billions in education funding it has withheld from public school districts for weeks. “The White House will release $5.5 billion in frozen education funds, administration officials announced on Friday, bringing an end to a chaotic…
Two lawsuits target Texas Ten Commandments law
Two Texas Baptists — including a BNG staff member — are among 16 multifaith and nonreligious Texas families who filed suit in federal court today to oppose the state’s new Ten Commandments law. This is the second lawsuit filed against the…
Another lawsuit filed to stop Bible-based curriculum in Oklahoma
More than 30 religious leaders, teachers and parents filed a lawsuit July 1 to block Oklahoma’s plan to implement Scripture-based social studies standards for K-12 schools. Rev. Dr. Mitch Randall v. Ryan Walters urges the Oklahoma Supreme Court to grant…
Split Supreme Court won’t allow public funds for religious charter school
The nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school will not happen, after a tie vote by the U.S. Supreme Court May 22. Justice Amy Coney Barrett abstained in the case OKPLAC Inc. v. Statewide Virtual Charter School, leaving eight justices…
Proposal aimed at getting more religion in Nebraska schools sidetracks Ed Committee
The Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee has been trying for a month to get one of its packages of education proposals out of committee and onto the floor. But the past few executive sessions have been tense, and committee members remain…