23% of Black Protestants support teacher-led prayer and say students should be required to participate
% who say public school teachers should …
Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. White and Black adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
23% of Black Protestants support teacher-led prayer and say students should be required to participate
% who say public school teachers should …
| Be allowed to lead their classes in prayer, and students should be required to participate | Be allowed to lead their classes in prayer, but only if students are not required to participate | Not be allowed to lead their classes in prayer at all | Don’t know/Refused | Group | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All U.S. adults | 8% | 53% | 37% | 2% | 1 |
| White evangelical Prot. | 7% | 80% | 11% | 2% | 2 |
| Black Protestant | 23% | 55% | 18% | 4% | 2 |
| Catholic | 10% | 57% | 32% | 2% | 2 |
| White Prot., not evang. | 6% | 56% | 37% | 1% | 2 |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 4% | 35% | 59% | 2% | 2 |
| Rep/lean Rep | 10% | 69% | 19% | 1% | 3 |
| Dem/lean Dem | 6% | 38% | 54% | 1% | 3 |
| Ages 50+ | 9% | 55% | 34% | 2% | 4 |
| Ages 18-49 | 8% | 51% | 39% | 2% | 4 |
| South | 11% | 58% | 29% | 2% | 5 |
| Midwest | 6% | 56% | 36% | 2% | 5 |
| Northeast | 9% | 47% | 42% | 2% | 5 |
| West | 5% | 46% | 47% | 2% | 5 |
Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. White and Black adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
