AUSTIN — Texas public school leaders could impose on students a mandatory period of praying and reading religious texts under a bill passed by the Texas Senate on Tuesday. “Religious freedom is a bedrock principle upon which America was founded,

A Texas Senate bill that would give schools the ability to dedicate a block of time for prayer during the school day, sailed through the Senate Tuesday and now heads to the House. Senate Bill 11 would allow school districts and public charter schools to establish a time for prayer in schools.