2,500 Ten Commandments Posters Transform Texas Schools

Laura Rivera, Unsplash

Earlier this fall, a significant victory unfolded in Hays CISD when Allison, an Action Partner with My Faith Votes, delivered more than 2,500 Ten Commandments posters donated to local schools. Her single act of faith ensured that every classroom in the district would have the Commandments displayed, without using taxpayer dollars, thanks to partnerships with organizations like Restore American Schools. Hays CISD accepted the donation and began placing the posters in compliance with Texas law.

That donation came under Senate Bill 10, a state law passed by the Texas legislature and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, which requires all public schools (that are not exempt due to ongoing litigation) to display a copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting September 1, 2025. The law does not require schools to purchase the posters; it requires them to accept and post privately donated ones that meet specified legal standards. 

When a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of SB 10 in eleven school districts, citing concerns over the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, many wondered if the law would ever reach every classroom. But Allison’s efforts in Hays CISD show how much can be accomplished in districts not affected by litigation. Though Judge Fred Biery issued an injunction against some districts, Hays CISD was not among them, meaning Allison’s donation and the district’s compliance are fully legal under current law. 

Constitutionality and Founding Principles 

Supporters like Attorney General Ken Paxton argue that the display of the Ten Commandments is not merely religious, but deeply historical and legal: they assert the Commandments have been “irrevocably intertwined with America’s legal, moral, and historical heritage.” The law, they say, honors those roots. 

Critics, including civil liberties groups, contend that SB 10 violates the First Amendment by favoring a specific religious text and by creating a state-favored religious display in public school classrooms. Judge Biery’s ruling emphasized that even passive displays may exert religious pressure on students, suppressing free expression of other beliefs. 

One relevant precedent is Stone v. Graham (1980), in which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Kentucky law that required Ten Commandments posters in classrooms, because the law lacked a secular legislative purpose. That case is often cited by opponents. The debate now centers on how modern laws are crafted to include historical or moral justifications, and whether those make the requirement constitutional under the “history and tradition” standard reaffirmed in recent Supreme Court decisions. 

The Work of Allison, My Faith Votes, and Million Voices 

Allison’s story is both inspiring and instructive. As an Action Partner, she coordinated with My Faith Votes, Million Voices, and Restore American Schools to raise, produce, and deliver the posters to classrooms. In doing so, she helped fulfill the law’s requirements in Hays CISD. Her work shows that private citizens can fulfill legal mandates when government or schools are waiting for action. 

Million Voices had earlier reported on the double standard in classrooms: that while schools widely display Constitutional and secular documents (like the Bill of Rights, or the Declaration of Independence), many parents believed there was resistance or delay when it came to religious texts, even ones with deep historical value. 

The partnership model, citizen donation of posters and voluntary compliance by school districts not under court injunction, provides a blueprint for spreading compliance statewide even amid legal confusion. 

Why the Ten Commandments Matter 

• They are foundational to Western law. Prohibitions against theft, murder, perjury, and honoring parents etc. are deeply embedded in civil law. 

• They serve as moral markers, teaching students about responsibility, accountability, and ethics. Such values are often agreed upon across faith lines. 

• From a Christian perspective, they reflect not just religious obligations but timeless truths. Displaying them is less about proselytizing and more about reminding communities of their own heritage. 

Constitutionally, the supporters argue that SB 10 passes muster because: 

• The posters are privately donated, not publicly funded purchases. 

• Display is mandatory only where districts are not enjoined by litigation. 

• The law references history, heritage, and morality, tying to tradition rather than exclusively evangelistic religious speech. 

Furthermore, in 1782, a committee in the United States government met in Philadelphia to discuss the production of a 1,452-page Bible by Robert Aitken. If Congress supported the printing of such a project, then the question must be asked: why would it be unconstitutional for the 10 Commandments to be posted in schools? 

Opponents counter that even private donations don’t erase establishment concerns, especially in schools, where minors are involved. The question is whether the state is favoring certain religious content in an official capacity. 

What This Means for Schools and Society 

Thanks to Allison’s action in Hays CISD and similar efforts in many districts, the law appears to be moving from idea to reality, unless blocked by court orders. Schools that are able to comply are doing so. Schools that are involved in litigation have their displays paused. The insight here is that individuals are a critical part of making laws work. 

For parents, teachers, and communities, this whole episode underscores the importance of being alert: 

• Read your school district’s status under SB 10 (is it under injunction or free to display?). 

• Be ready to donate compliant posters if needed. 

• Engage local boards, pastors, or faith groups to facilitate compliance. 

Broad Reflections: The State of American Universities and Schools 

All of this in K-12 education also signals a larger trend across higher education institutions. Colleges increasingly face battles over curriculum content, identity ideology, and free expression. When public schools are asked to display foundational moral texts, the resistance is often ideological. Universities, in turn, often pre-emptively change syllabi, avoid certain viewpoints, or discourage opposition to prevailing cultural narratives. 

The Ten Commandments campaign is more than a K-12 issue, or a legal issue, it’s spiritual and cultural. It asks: Who will shape what students believe? Will schools merely reflect the drift of culture, or anchor students in recognitions of shared heritage and virtue? 

For Christian conservatives, this moment is an invitation: to engage, to donate, to advocate, but also to pray and stand for truth. Laws matter. Stories matter. And people like Allison show what faith in action can do when we refuse to wait for perfect circumstances.

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