2026–27 Protected Prayer Certification Instruction
Consolidated Application and Reporting System data entry instructions for the 2026–27 Protected Prayer Certification data collection form.Data Collection Purpose
The Protected Prayer Certification meets the annual federal requirements specified in the Every Student Succeeds Act Section 8524(b) regarding constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. This data collection form is designed to provide the written certification that the local educational agency (LEA) has no policy that prevents or otherwise denies participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools.
Program Information
The LEA must maintain the signed certification page in its files and be prepared to show it to staff during compliance monitoring.
California Department of Education Program Staff Contact
Carrie Lopes
Education Administrator
Title I Policy, Program, and Support Office
clopes@cde.ca.gov
916-319-0126
Procedures
| Step | Action | Program Instructions |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Indicate whether the Authorized Representative Agrees to the certification statement. |
Required field. |
2 |
Provide the Authorized Representative’s Full Name. |
If certification is “Yes,” then this field is required. |
3 |
Provide the Authorized Representative’s Title. |
If certification is “Yes,” then this field is required. |
4 |
Provide the Authorized Representative’s Signature Date. |
If certification is “Yes,” then this field is required. |
5 |
Provide a Comment if the LEA is not able to certify at this time. |
If certification is “No,” then this field is required. Maximum 500 characters. |
Error Messages
| Field Name | Error Message | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
No Certification Comment |
A comment must be provided to describe why certification has not occurred. |
If certification is “No,” then this field is required. |
Authorizing Representative Name |
The authorizing representative name is required. |
If certification is “Yes,” then this field is required. |
Authorizing Representative Title |
The authorizing representative title is required. |
If certification is “Yes,” then this field is required. |
Certification Date |
The certification date is required. |
If certification is “Yes,” then this field is required. |