Cy-Fair ISD Board Reverses Textbook Censorship

New pro-education board members vote to restore 13 banned chapters from 5 textbooks

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Cy-Fair ISD school board has voted 4-3 to reverse a previous conservative majority's decision to censor 13 chapters from 5 textbooks covering topics like vaccines, climate change, and cultural diversity. The new board members say they acted based on feedback from parents, students, and teachers who wanted access to the previously removed content.

Why it matters

The textbook censorship in Cy-Fair ISD and nearby Conroe ISD had become a flashpoint in the broader debate over what should be taught in Texas public schools. The reversal by the new Cy-Fair board reflects a shift in the state's third-largest school district and a victory for advocates of comprehensive, fact-based education.

The details

In 2024, Cy-Fair's previous conservative board majority voted to remove 13 chapters from 5 textbooks, claiming the materials veered too far into controversial topics. The new pro-education board members have now voted to restore those chapters, with the board president citing feedback from the community. The move will not cost the district any additional money, as the textbooks are already owned.

  • In May 2024, the previous Cy-Fair ISD board voted to remove the 13 textbook chapters.
  • On February 10, 2026, the new Cy-Fair ISD board voted 4-3 to restore the previously banned textbook chapters.

The players

Julie Hinaman

The current president of the Cy-Fair ISD school board.

Douglas Killian

The superintendent of Cy-Fair ISD.

Tanya Goree

The assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Cy-Fair ISD.

Christine Kalmbach

A Cy-Fair ISD school board trustee who objected to the reversal, saying board members should review all content before voting.

Glenn Branch

The deputy director of the National Center for Science Education, who praised the board's decision as a "victory for the students in Cy-Fair's public schools."

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What they’re saying

“The board's vote to reverse the censorship of chapters from state-approved textbooks is a victory for the students in Cy-Fair's public schools. Without those chapters, it was harder for students to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to prepare for the challenges of the future, including the disruptive effects of climate change and the prospect of emerging infectious diseases.”

— Glenn Branch, Deputy Director, National Center for Science Education

“It's disturbing to me that, well — and I agree that everybody has an opinion, and absolutely can share that opinion — but I would hope that as board members, we would review all the content that is put before us, and that we'd be able to vote knowledgeably on the curriculum.”

— Christine Kalmbach, Cy-Fair ISD School Board Trustee

“We always don't do it from all my own personal view, but we do it from the view of people in the community. So one part of our job is also talking to the people in the community and finding out their views of materials and supporting it from that standpoint.”

— Cleveland Lane, Cy-Fair ISD School Board Trustee

What’s next

The Cy-Fair ISD board will work with teachers this summer to incorporate both the restored textbook chapters and the district-created content that was developed to replace them when creating the curriculum for the 2026-27 school year.

The takeaway

The Cy-Fair ISD board's decision to reverse the previous censorship of textbook chapters reflects a broader shift in the state's third-largest school district, as well as the ongoing debate over what should be taught in Texas public schools. This move is a victory for advocates of comprehensive, fact-based education.