BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The state Public Charter School Commission has reprimanded the publicly funded Nampa Classical Academy over the use of religious texts in the classroom.

The agency Monday sent the charter school a notice of defect - the first step in a lengthy process that could result in closure - after reviewing an academy reading list for high school students.

The list included the Bible.

The charter school's administrators said earlier this year they would use the Bible as a primary source of teaching material, but not to teach religion.

The plan prompted the commission to investigate and decide the academy couldn't use the Bible as an instructional text.

The charter school, the third-largest in Idaho with about 550 students, is fighting that decision in federal court.

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AP-NY-11-23-09 1321EST