The Bible in State Academic Standards

There is a common misconception that teaching about the Bible and Christianity is not allowed in public school classrooms because of concerns over the establishment of religion. As The Bible in State Academic Standards shows, quite to the contrary, state academic standards across the nation provide ample opportunity for educators to teach about the Bible, Christian beliefs, and Christians who were influential in history. For example, California sixth graders are expected to:

“Note the origins of Christianity in the Jewish Messianic prophecies, the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament, and the contribution of St. Paul the Apostle to the definition and spread of Christian beliefs (e.g., belief in the Trinity, resurrection, salvation).” (Standard 6.7.6, adopted in 1998 and reaffirmed in 2005)

We have reviewed every states academic standards. In our Summaries we include:

• State academic standards related to the Bible and Christianity

• The preambles to state constitutions that reference God because most states have an expectation that students will learn about their constitutions

• State laws regarding freedom of religious expression

We will mail you a Summary of your State Academic Standards if you fill out the form below.

First Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Phone
Address 1 *
Address 2
City *
State/Province *	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Marshall Islands Northern Mariana Islands Palau Puerto Rico U.S. Minor Outlying Islands Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe, the Middle East, an Armed Forces Pacific Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Nunavut Territory Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory
Zip *
How did you hear about this offer? *	This Website E-Newsletter Facebook Instagram Radio Other

Easter and State Standards

Here are examples of state academic standards and frameworks that relate to Easter: 

MASSACHUSETTS - Students are to "describe the central features of Christianity (e.g., the belief in a messiah who could redeem humans from sin, the concept of salvation, the belief in an Old and a New Testament in the Bible, the life, and teachings of Jesus.)." (6. T3, 3.d.) 

TEXAS - Students are to "explain the significance of religious holidays and observances such as Christmas, Easter..." 113.18 (17)b.) 

OHIO - "Students should be familiar with and able to identify the geographic origins, founding leaders and teachings of...Christianity." (6.8) 

FLORIDA - Students are to "identify key figures and the basic beliefs of early Christianity and how these beliefs impacted the Roman Empire...Examples are Christian monotheism, Jesus as the son of God, Peter, Paul." (SS.6.W.3.13)

CALIFORNIA - Students are to "note the origins of Christianity in the Jewish Messianic prophecies, the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament, and the contribution of St. Paul the Apostle to the definition and spread of Christian beliefs (e.g., belief in the Trinity, resurrection, salvation)." (6.7.6).  

————————————————————-

For articles on how to teach objectively about Easter click here and here.

To read about our Easter Card for teachers click here

To download our Easter Lesson, click here. It adapts Luke 22-24 into a textbook-style lesson with pictures, vocabulary, culture facts, and discussion questions.

To request our Summary of your State Academic Standards click here.