The Texas Board of Education began examining what textbooks they want to purchase.
The board began debate Wednesday on the books' content and how they fit in with the state's education plan.
The selection of proposed biology textbooks has turned into a battle of evolution vs. creationism.
The theory of evolution will stay in textbooks, but there's still a controversy as to how it's handled.
Some board members said they're not interested in the debate. They just want to select the best books for Texas students.
"This year the approach of religious conservatives is to dumb down the coverage of evolution in the books by claiming they are full misinformation, errors and even fraudulent coverage of science," Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Education Science said.
"I've been concerned for many years as a Texas resident, of the quality of instruction in the textbooks, particularly covering evolution. I think evolution sometimes makes a special case. The strengths are often presented, but the weaknesses rarely, if ever, are," Ray Bohlin of the Discovery Institute said.
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Evolution vs. creationism
News 8 Austin's Crestina Chavez reports from the State Board of Education meeting.
 
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Board member Gail Lowe said she was disappointed that many of the people who testified for or against certain textbooks hadn't actually read them.
"They seem to be here to express a viewpoint, but it doesn't seem to relate to the textbooks we're actually considering," she said.
Forty-two speakers offered their opinions at the public hearing on biology, but only half of them were familiar with the particular books.
Texas' choice of textbooks can sometimes influence other states to follow suit. After California, Texas is the second leading buyer of textbooks.
There will be another forum in September on the selection of biology books, and the board is expected to make a final decision in November.
