Should teachers be allowed to lead students in Christian prayer? What poll found

Natalie Demaree, The Charlotte Observer on Jun 23, 2025

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A majority of Americans said they support letting public school teachers guide students in Christian prayer during class, according to a new poll.

Fifty-two percent of U.S. adults said teachers should be allowed to “lead their classes in prayers that refer to Jesus,” while 46% said they oppose letting teachers do so, according to Pew Research Center poll analysis shared June 23.

The survey of 36,908 U.S. adults was taken between July 17, 2023 and March 4, 2024 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 0.8 percentage points.

The results come as the United States Supreme Court continues to hear cases questioning the role of religion in education. Recently, a federal appeals court struck down a Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, and some groups are suing to block similar laws in Arkansas and Texas.

A larger share of Americans, 57%, said teachers should be allowed to lead prayers that don’t reference a specific religion but do reference God, the poll found.

In 22 states, more adults said they favored letting teachers lead their students in Christian prayer, with most of the states with the highest majorities being in the South, per the poll.

More Americans living in some Northeast or West Coast states, including Vermont and California, said they oppose teachers leading Christian prayer in schools, the poll found.

Sixteen states are divided on whether they favor or oppose teacher-led Christian prayer, according to the poll.

Is teacher-led prayer allowed in public schools?

Public school teachers are not “in their official capacities” allowed to direct prayer, even if students ask them to do so, according to guidance from the Department of Education. They, however, can engage in personal prayer while at work as long as they don’t “compel, coerce, persuade or encourage students to join.”

This is because teachers, along with other government officials, are expected to remain neutral about religion and non belief, according to the DOE.

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