A group of Oklahoma parents of public school students, teachers and ministers filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the state’s top education official from forcing schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12.

A group of parents, teachers and clergy representing different faith groups have filed a lawsuit against Oklahoma education officials over a requirement to have the Bible taught in public schools

Dozens of of parents, teachers and faith leaders are suing Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters for mandating Bible instruction in classrooms.

Petitioners behind the lawsuit include religious leaders, public school teachers and parents in Oklahoma who argue the measure is harmful.

More than 30 parents, teachers and faith leaders filed a lawsuit in the Oklahoma Supreme Court Thursday over State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ directive to require Bibles in every classroom and to use them as an instructional resource.

A Tulsa attorney is one of eight representing nearly 30 people who are suing to stop a Bible mandate issued by the State Department of Education. It calls for $3 million to be spent to buy Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms.