Story perspectives

Families Petition Supreme Court to Block Texas Bible Mandate

8/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

American families petition the U.S. Supreme Court to block Texas Senate Bill 10’s classroom Ten Commandments displays.
Two dozen families from 22 districts, represented by ACLU of Texas, Americans United and Freedom From Religion Foundation, sued.
Senate Bill 10 requires a permanent Protestant King James Bible Ten Commandments poster in each K-12 classroom.
Plaintiffs say the displays pressure children, increase bullying risk and violate families’ right to decide religious education.

History

Historical Context

After the Warren Court struck down state-sponsored prayer in Engel v. Vitale (1962) and extended the ban in Abington School District v. Schempp (1963), later rulings such as Wallace v. Jaffree (1985) and Santa Fe ISD v. Doe (2000) reinforced the Establishment Clause. Today the ACLU of Texas, Americans United and Freedom From Religion Foundation cite Engel to challenge Texas Senate Bill 10’s Ten Commandments posters.

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Story summary

American families petition the U.S. Supreme Court to block Texas Senate Bill 10’s classroom Ten Commandments displays.
Two dozen families from 22 districts, represented by ACLU of Texas, Americans United and Freedom From Religion Foundation, sued.
Senate Bill 10 requires a permanent Protestant King James Bible Ten Commandments poster in each K-12 classroom.
Plaintiffs say the displays pressure children, increase bullying risk and violate families’ right to decide religious education.

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