Paxton Investigates San Angelo ISD in Statewide Probe Over Ten Commandments, Prayer

UPDATE: San Angelo ISD has released a statement in response to the announcement of Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigation. 

It reads as follows: 

"San Angelo ISD is fully cooperating with the Office of the Attorney General’s investigation regarding Senate Bill 10 and Senate Bill 11, passed during the most recent legislative session. In compliance with Senate Bill 10, San Angelo ISD displays the Ten Commandments in all classrooms across the district as required by Board Policy CLE and TASB Policy 126.

Regarding Senate Bill 11, the San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees voted at its February 16, 2026, Regular Board Meeting to reject a policy that would require each campus to provide a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text as outlined in Section 25.0823 of the Texas Education Code. Students in Texas have always had the right to pray or read religious texts of their choosing while at school.

The Office of the Attorney General has submitted a public information request for supporting documentation, and the district is currently processing that request in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act."

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo ISD is among dozens of Texas independent school districts under investigation by Attorney General Ken Paxton to ensure they are displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms and have complied with requirements for school board votes on prayer time. 

As part of the probe, the Office of the Attorney General is demanding that the districts provide proof of a board vote on implementing designated prayer time under Senate Bill 11. The requests also seek documents showing whether the Ten Commandments are being displayed — or not — and detailing related policies under Senate Bill 10. 

“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. “Texas school 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.” 

SB 10, passed during the 89th Legislative Session, took effect Sept. 1, 2025. It requires public schools to display donated copies of the Ten Commandments that meet certain specifications. SB 11 requires boards of trustees of independent school districts to vote on whether to implement a designated time for prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts. 

The districts receiving the demands are: Alamo Heights, North East, Austin, Cypress-Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Houston, Dripping Springs, Plano, Northside, Conroe, Galveston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, McAllen, Amarillo, El Paso, Corpus Christi, United, Texarkana, Victoria, Waco, Abilene, San Angelo, Brownsville and Beaumont. 

Many of those districts were previously involved in litigation challenging SB 10. That case ended with a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upholding the law’s constitutionality, which Paxton secured. Paxton has also called on districts to restore prayer in schools after SB 11 took effect.