Paxton Wants Prayer Back in Public School

August 3, 2025 – Attorney General Ken Paxton is urging Texas schools to take immediate steps toward reinstating prayer in the classroom, following the passage of Senate Bill 11, which officially went into effect on September 1, 2025. The new law authorizes school boards to adopt policies creating designated time for voluntary prayer and the reading of scripture in public schools.

In a public statement, Paxton emphasized the importance of faith in education and society, declaring, “In Texas classrooms, we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed, and prayers lifted up.” He argued that the spiritual and moral foundation of America is rooted in biblical principles and warned against what he described as attempts by the political left to erase those values.

Senate Bill 11 requires each independent school district’s board of trustees to hold a recorded vote on adopting prayer or scripture-reading policies within six months of the law’s enactment. Participation by students will remain voluntary and subject to parental consent, ensuring compliance with existing protections of religious freedom and individual choice.

The bill further directs the Office of the Attorney General to provide legal defense for any district or charter school that adopts such policies. Paxton also has authority to recommend best practices for implementation. As part of his guidance, Paxton encouraged Texas students to begin these moments of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer, a cornerstone of Christian teaching, while reminding communities that the opportunity is open for voluntary reflection according to individual faith traditions.