Just over a month after the Supreme Court was roundly criticized for refusing to delay the execution of an Alabama death-row inmate who was denied the right to have an imam present in the death chamber, the court halted the execution of a Buddhist death-row inmate in Texas who was similarly denied a spiritual adviser.

Mark Chancey, professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, examined dozens of “Bible literacy” courses in public schools for a report he prepared for Texas Freedom Network. Chancey found that successful courses share certain features. The following list is adapted from Chan­cey’s report.

Mark Chan­cey, a professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, examined some of the Bible classes offered in Texas in response to a 2007 law. Chancey found a mixed bag: While some school districts were doing a pretty good job of offering objective instruction, others veered wildly off course and were proselytizing students.