Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating Texas school districts, including those in El Paso, to determine whether they are complying with a new state law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
The attorney general’s office has launched a statewide investigation to ensure schools are displaying the Ten Commandments and implementing school prayer time, Paxton announced in a Thursday, May 7, news release.
“I will always fight for students’ fundamental right to pray in our schools and work to ensure that Texas kids are able to learn from the Ten Commandments daily,” Paxton said in a statement. “Texas schools districts must comply with Texas law by displaying the Ten Commandments and taking a school board vote regarding the implementation of prayer time in schools.
“I will never stop defending our students’ religious freedom and the moral foundation of our nation.”
The El Paso Times reached out to El Paso-area school districts for a comment on Paxton’s announcement.
Anthony Independent School District Superintendent Oscar A. Troncoso said his district has been following the law since it went into effect in September.
“We have been displaying posters of the Ten Commandments since the beginning of the school year as required by law,” Troncoso said.
He added to his knowledge there have been no discussions on school prayers. The attorney general’s office has not contacted the Anthony Independent School District about any investigation, Troncoso said.
El Paso Independent School District said it has taken steps to follow the new laws.
“El Paso ISD remains committed to adhering to all state laws and guidelines set forth by the Texas Education Agency (TEA),” an EPISD statement sent by spokesman Ernest Chacon stated. “Our primary focus remains on providing a high-quality, supportive learning environment for all students.”
The new law, Senate Bill (SB) 10, was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025. The law went into effect on Sept. 1. The law “requires public schools to display donated copies of the Ten Commandments that meet certain specifications,” the news release states.
The attorney general’s office is demanding that schools “produce documents regarding the display or lack thereof of the Ten Commandments and their policies regarding SB 10.”
The law was challenged in court by parents and civil rights groups, who claimed it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by forcing religious messaging into public schools.
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law on April 21. The case is expected to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. A date for when the justices could hear the case is unknown.
“The Court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority,” ACLU Texas officials said in a news release about the appeals court’s ruling. “The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction.
“This decision tramples those rights. We anticipate asking the Supreme Court to reverse this decision and uphold the religious-freedom rights of children and parents.”
The school prayers law, Senate Bill (SB) 11, was also passed during the same legislative session and went into effect at the same time as SB 10. The law “requires the board of trustees for ISDs to vote on whether to implement a designated time for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts,” the attorney general’s news release states.
The ACLU and other civil rights groups have condemned the law, also arguing it violates First Amendment rights and the separation of church and state.
As part of its investigation, the attorney general’s office has demanded that school districts “provide proof of a board vote on the implementation of SB 11,” the news release states.
Texas school districts under investigation
There are 29 independent school districts under investigation. The school district includes:
The Texas school districts are Alamo Heights, North East, Cypress-Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Houston, Dripping Springs, Plano, Northside, Conroe, Galveston, Wichita Falls, McAllen, Amarillo, United, Texarkana, Victoria, Waco, Abilene, San Angelo, Brownsville and Beaumont.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: AG Paxton investigating El Paso, Texas schools on Ten Commandments law
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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