Midterm voters face 17 education measures, including constitutional changes on prayer and sports

Key points

• 17 education-related ballot measures are on the ballot in 10 states for the 2026 midterms, the most impactful of which seek to amend state constitutions.
• Alabama’s measure would require public K-12 schools to allow student-led prayer and recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily; a related proposal would require weekly national anthem broadcasts.
• Nebraska’s measure would enshrine in the state constitution a ban on transgender students playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams, requiring teams to be designated male, female, or co-ed.
• Similar measures on transgender athletes appear in Arizona, Colorado, and Washington, though these would change state law rather than constitutions.
• Other measures address school funding in New Mexico, Minnesota, and California, and free school meals in North Dakota.

Background

This wave of education-related ballot measures follows a period of heightened political polarization over school policies, including debates over religious expression and gender identity in athletics. The 2026 midterms also feature significant tax measures in California, Colorado, and Washington, indicating a broader national focus on state-level fiscal and cultural policy. Recent federal court decisions have reinstated billions in education grants, highlighting the volatility of federal funding that may influence state-level decisions.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post emphasizes the strategic use of constitutional amendments to make culture-war policies durable, noting that 17 education measures are on the ballot in 10 states. Reason Magazine highlights the specific mechanics of the Nebraska and Arizona measures, noting that the Nebraska campaign was funded entirely by a single nonprofit, Restore the Good Life Inc., and that Arizona’s Proposition 318 would ban student athletes from changing team designations. RSM US LLP focuses on the broader economic implications for nonprofits and higher education, warning that federal funding volatility and changes to tax-exempt status could affect 18,000 private educational institutions. Academia Magazine provides a general overview, noting that the measures reflect growing political divisions over school policies and students’ rights, but offers less detail on the specific mechanics of the constitutional amendments compared to the other outlets.

Why it matters

The outcome of these ballot measures could have long-term consequences for education policy, as constitutional amendments are difficult to reverse. Decisions on school prayer and transgender athletes could set precedents for other states and influence federal policy debates. Additionally, changes in congressional control could affect federal funding for education and nonprofits, potentially exacerbating the impact of state-level decisions.

What to watch

Voters in 10 states will decide these measures in November 2026. If approved, the constitutional amendments in Alabama and Nebraska would require public schools to implement daily prayer and Pledge of Allegiance routines, and enforce bans on transgender athletes in girls’ sports, respectively. The results will likely influence similar debates in other states and could prompt federal responses, including changes to grant administration and tax-exempt status requirements for educational institutions.