Religion in public schools ballot measures

Issues
Measures by topic
Measures by year
Measures by state

As a state ballot measure topic, religion in public schools includes measures regarding religious activities, expressions, and displays in public schools, such as school prayer, religious symbols, or religious texts in classrooms. The topic is grouped within the education policy area.

This page provides information on:

• upcoming ballot measures and
• a comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state.

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to religion in public schools certified for this year and future elections:

2026

1. Florida Prayer in Schools Initiative (2026) - Potential

List of ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to religion in public schools, organized by year or state.

Year

State

2026

1. Florida Prayer in Schools Initiative (2026) - Potential

2018

1. Alabama Amendment 1, Ten Commandments Amendment (2018)

2012

1. Missouri Amendment 2, Public Prayer and Public School Students’ Religious Expressions Measure (August 2012)

1994

1. Utah Proposition 3, Nonsectarian Religious Studies Exemption from Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1994)

1986

1. Utah Proposition 3, Restructure the Education Article Amendment (1986)

1984

1. West Virginia Amendment 3, Prayer or Private Contemplation in Public Schools Measure (1984)

1972

1. Florida School Prayer Straw Ballot Measure (March 1972)
2. Massachusetts Question 9, Voluntary Recitation of Prayer in Public Schools Advisory Question (1972)
3. Wisconsin Question 3, Public School Building Use Amendment (April 1972)
4. Wisconsin Question 4, School Release for Religious Instruction Amendment (April 1972)

1970

1. Maryland Question 9, Making References to God in Public Institutions and Places Amendment (1970)

1948

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Prohibit Public School Teachers Religious Dress Measure (1948)

1928

1. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)

1926

1. California Proposition 17, Holy Bible in Public Schools Initiative (1926)

1877

1. Minnesota Amendment 7, Prohibiting Use of Funds for Sectarian Schools Measure (1877)

Alabama

1. Alabama Amendment 1, Ten Commandments Amendment (2018)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)

California

1. California Proposition 17, Holy Bible in Public Schools Initiative (1926)

Florida

1. Florida Prayer in Schools Initiative (2026) - Potential
2. Florida School Prayer Straw Ballot Measure (March 1972)

Maryland

1. Maryland Question 9, Making References to God in Public Institutions and Places Amendment (1970)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 9, Voluntary Recitation of Prayer in Public Schools Advisory Question (1972)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 7, Prohibiting Use of Funds for Sectarian Schools Measure (1877)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 2, Public Prayer and Public School Students’ Religious Expressions Measure (August 2012)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Prohibit Public School Teachers Religious Dress Measure (1948)

Utah

1. Utah Proposition 3, Nonsectarian Religious Studies Exemption from Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1994)
2. Utah Proposition 3, Restructure the Education Article Amendment (1986)

West Virginia

1. West Virginia Amendment 3, Prayer or Private Contemplation in Public Schools Measure (1984)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 3, Public School Building Use Amendment (April 1972)
2. Wisconsin Question 4, School Release for Religious Instruction Amendment (April 1972)

See also

• List of ballot measures by topic