Texas’ education board voted Friday to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools under optional new curriculum that could test boundaries between religion and public classrooms in the U.S. The material adopted by the Texas State Board of Education,

The Republican-led Texas Board of Education has narrowly approved a Bible-based curriculum that will be optional for students in elementary schools starting in the next academic year. Friday’s 8–7 vote acts as the final stamp of approval on a religious lesson plan that teaches K–5 students about Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount message and the Good Samaritan parable,

The state’s board of education narrowly voted to allow schools to start using the reading and language arts curriculum next fall if they choose.