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Separation of Church and State Curricula? Examining Public and Religious Private School Textbooks. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1195

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Title: Separation of Church and State Curricula? Examining Public and Religious Private School Textbooks. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1195
Language: English
Authors: Anjali Adukia, Emileigh Harrison, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2025.
Availability: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 88
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Academy of Education (NAEd)
Spencer Foundation
Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI)
Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A200478
Document Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Information Analyses
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: State Church Separation, Public Schools, Private Schools, Curriculum Evaluation, Textbook Evaluation, Religious Schools, Political Attitudes, Comparative Analysis, Gender Differences, Race, Illustrations, Religion, Evolution, Content Analysis, Moral Values, Religious Factors, LGBTQ People, Slavery, United States History, School Choice, Home Schooling, Diversity, Inclusion, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Software, Christianity, Elementary Secondary Education
Geographic Terms: Texas, California
Abstract: Curricula impart knowledge, instill values, and shape collective memory. Despite growing public funding for religious schools through U.S. school choice programs, little is known about what they teach. We examine textbooks from public schools, religious private schools, and home schools, applying computational methods -- including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools -- to measure the presence and portrayal of people, topics, and values over time. Despite narratives of political polarization, our findings reveal few meaningful differences between public school textbooks from Texas and California. However, religious school textbooks have less female representation, feature lighter-skinned individuals, and portray topics like evolution and religion differently. Over one-third of pages in each collection convey character values, with a higher proportion in religious school textbooks. Important similarities also emerge: all textbook collections rarely include LGBTQIA+ discussion, portray females in more positive but less active or powerful contexts than males, and depict the U.S. founding era and slavery in similar contexts.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED674064
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Separation of Church and State Curricula? Examining Public and Religious Private School Textbooks. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1195
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anjali+Adukia%22">Anjali Adukia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emileigh+Harrison%22">Emileigh Harrison</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22">Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</searchLink>
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  Data: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
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  Data: National Academy of Education (NAEd)<br />Spencer Foundation<br />Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI)<br />Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Curricula impart knowledge, instill values, and shape collective memory. Despite growing public funding for religious schools through U.S. school choice programs, little is known about what they teach. We examine textbooks from public schools, religious private schools, and home schools, applying computational methods -- including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools -- to measure the presence and portrayal of people, topics, and values over time. Despite narratives of political polarization, our findings reveal few meaningful differences between public school textbooks from Texas and California. However, religious school textbooks have less female representation, feature lighter-skinned individuals, and portray topics like evolution and religion differently. Over one-third of pages in each collection convey character values, with a higher proportion in religious school textbooks. Important similarities also emerge: all textbook collections rarely include LGBTQIA+ discussion, portray females in more positive but less active or powerful contexts than males, and depict the U.S. founding era and slavery in similar contexts.
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  Data: ED674064
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 88
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: State Church Separation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Private Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curriculum Evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Textbook Evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Religious Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Political Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comparative Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Race
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      – SubjectFull: Illustrations
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      – SubjectFull: Religion
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      – SubjectFull: Evolution
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      – SubjectFull: Content Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Moral Values
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      – SubjectFull: Religious Factors
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      – SubjectFull: LGBTQ People
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      – SubjectFull: Slavery
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      – SubjectFull: School Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
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      – SubjectFull: Christianity
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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      – SubjectFull: Texas
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      – SubjectFull: California
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      – TitleFull: Separation of Church and State Curricula? Examining Public and Religious Private School Textbooks. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1195
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