Texas Schools Could Hire Chaplains as School Counselors Under New Proposal

The state Senate passed the bill, which now moves to the House for consideration

Students are shown studying the Bible. (Shutterstock/ palidachan)

The Texas Senate has advanced legislation that would allow public and charter schools to hire chaplains to provide counseling and support services for students.

On April 24, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 763 (pdf), authored by Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton, in a party-line vote of 19–11.

“Chaplains are important parts of our communities, whether it be military, police, or fire, they represent God and our government institution,” Middleton said during the Senate debate at the state Capitol.

While the bill would not require schools to hire chaplains, it would permit districts to provide additional support resources for students, parents, and teachers.

“[C]urrently, chaplains serve about 8.3 million students in 23 countries throughout the entire world. These chaplains and these programs have proven and demonstrated their impact to provide stability in the classroom,” Middleton continued, adding that their training and deescalation techniques can help reduce tension and frustration for students.

Under the measure, chaplains would not need a teacher’s certificate to work in schools.

Districts would also not be required to hire chaplains. Rather, the bill would provide school boards the option to do so if they choose. Districts could also allow volunteer chaplains in schools.

Some Democrats said they had concerns that the legislation would violate students’ First Amendment rights.

State Sen. Juan Hinojosa said that using the word chaplain in the bill narrows the definition to a certain type of religion that could participate as counselors in schools.

But Middleton said an amendment to the bill would include a provision to clarify the section code dealing with counselors to allow districts to hire or bring on volunteers from any religion as counselors.

State Sen. José Menendez said he had concerns about the qualifications required for the job.

“Do they require any certification to be out in a position of trust and confidence with the students of all the taxpayers’ children who attend the schools?” Menendez asked.

The school board would determine what credentials are required for their district, Middleton explained.

Schools Are Not ‘God-Free’ Zones

The state Senate passed two bills recently to allow religious freedom in public schools.

“Our schools are not God-free zones, yesterday we passed Senate Bill 1396, which puts prayer back in our schools,” Middleton wrote on Twitter on April 21.

The bill would permit school districts to establish a time for prayer or Bible reading, or reading of other religious texts (pdf).

“We are a state and nation built on ‘In God We Trust,'” Middleton said in a press release.

The proposed legislation “takes into account recent Supreme Court cases, like the Coach Kennedy case, which has debunked the false doctrine of separation of church and state,” the release said.

In 2015, high school football coach Joe Kennedy was placed on leave by Bremerton School District in Bremerton, Washington, for leading prayers with his players on the field after games. Kennedy sued the district.

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling on the case in a 6–3 vote, affirming that Kennedy’s right to pray with his players is protected by the First Amendment.

Middleton said in his announcement about the bill that the Founding Fathers never intended separation of God from government or schools.

Lt. Governor Supports Measures

Lawmakers also voted 17–12 to pass Republican Sen. Phil King’s bill regarding the Ten Commandments.

Senate Bill 1515 (pdf) would require all public schools to display a copy of the Ten Commandments.

“Religious liberty was a bedrock of America’s founding,” King said in a statement to Christian Headlines. “For the last several decades, expression of that liberty has been restricted. However, thanks to this recent SCOTUS opinion, those restrictions have been lifted.”

The displays would “remind students all across Texas of the importance of a fundamental foundation of American and Texas law—the Ten Commandments,” he added.

According to the bill, the displays, which must be placed prominently in classrooms, could be accepted as donations or purchased using “public funds.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick applauded the passing of the two bills.

“I will never stop fighting for religious liberty in Texas,” Patrick said in a statement.

“I believe that you cannot change the culture of the country until you change the culture of mankind. Bringing the Ten Commandments and prayer back to our public school will enable our students to become better Christians.”

In the last legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a similar bill that requires schools to hang posters stating “In God We Trust” in schools.

The bills must pass in the House before being sent to Abbott’s desk for a signature.