Students at Ridge Point, Elkins, Marshall and Stafford high schools will learn a different version of American and world history starting in the 2030-31 school year.
The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) approved new social studies standards Friday, Sept. 4, reshaping how Christianity and Islam are taught in four high school courses. The board's Republican majority voted to adopt revised curriculum standards, known as TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills), for U.S. History, U.S. Government, World History and World Geography, Community Impact reported.
The standards will apply statewide, including in Fort Bend ISD and Stafford Municipal School District.
What the standards require
Under the approved standards, lessons on Christianity will cover "the life and teachings of Jesus," the "roots of Western civilization in Christianity" and "moral teachings from the Old and New Testaments." Christianity is referenced at least 18 times across the four courses, with one direct mention of the Bible.
Islam is referenced 12 times. Lessons will focus on extremism and "radical Islam" across all four courses. The World History course will require students to learn about "the Prophet Mohammed's brutal military campaigns against Jewish and Christian tribes."
Students will also be required to learn that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were "motivated by radical Islam."
The World Geography course will require students to describe the central ideas of eight religions and philosophies, including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Confucianism and Daoism. Students would study religious texts and "significant beliefs" of Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism, but that requirement would not apply to Islam.
Debate over religious framing
Roughly 100 Texans testified at a Monday, Aug. 31, board meeting. Democratic members sought amendments to include Muslim contributions to algebra and astronomy and to describe Islam in more neutral terms. The Republican majority voted those amendments down.
"It is clear the [standards] were written intentionally to portray one face in a positive light while deliberately casting another in a negative light," Bahia Amawi, a Central Texas speech pathologist, told the board Monday, Aug. 31.
SBOE member Rebecca Bell-Metereau, D-San Marcos, said Friday, Sept. 4, that a standard on the views of Sir William Blackstone, a Christian legal scholar, would violate the Establishment Clause and lacked diverse religious perspectives.
SBOE member Brandon Hall, R-Aledo, disagreed. Hall said Friday, Sept. 4, that the standards do not establish a state religion and that students should understand Blackstone's belief that human law should conform to God's law.
Felicia Martin, president of the Texas Freedom Network, said the standards single out Christianity as the source for values common in other religions and leave students without the broader cultural literacy they need.
Local impact
Fort Bend ISD serves 78,062 students across 83 campuses, according to Texas Tribune enrollment data. The district's student population is 28.4% Asian. Stafford MSD enrolled 3,532 students as of its 2025-26 snapshot date, according to district budget documents.
Neither district has issued a public statement about the Friday, Sept. 4, vote.
The SBOE gave initial approval to the high school standards on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and took final votes Friday, Sept. 4, without additional public comment. The board had approved elementary and middle school standards and a state reading list in June 2026, postponing the high school courses at that time to avoid errors.
No FBISD or SMSD board agenda item addressing the new TEKS has been confirmed.
