Religious expression is a right all individuals are entitled to under the U.S Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religious practice, a right the federal government cannot interfere with, including in public schools.
However, according to Section 25.0823(b)(3) under Texas Senate Bill 11, students are not able to pray and worship during instructional time, unless their district’s school board approves allotted prayer time.
Religions, such as Judaism and Islam, have mandated prayers during certain times in the afternoon, overlapping with school hours.
Coppell High School students can pray in a space provided in the library during their lunch period. However, many students are not able to pray during lunch because the Judaism and Islamic prayer timings change on a day-to-day basis according to the solar calendar.
As a Muslim public school student, I struggle to meet my five obligated prayers due to the Texas Legislation restricting my rights.
Why do I have to choose between following my faith and receiving a proper education?
This question does not linger just with me; it concerns many public school students in Texas wanting to balance religion with their education.
“The law limits students’ ability to participate in their faith freely. I think that is a big part of being in the United States and going to a public school; having that background and having that ability to practice freely,” senior Coppell Muslim Student Association president Mohammad Saleh said. “I think that is part of the American dream.”
For Muslim students, this limitation becomes even more complex on Friday, the holiest day of the Islamic week. Muslims must partake in Jummah, a lecture about Islamic lessons and teachings ascribed in the Qur’an, followed by a communal prayer
“The situation for sure is disappointing,” Saleh said. “To be limited to participating in Jummah during school hours and for some students to have to rush out of school to try to make it to the mosque, it is rough.”
State lawmakers may argue that allotted prayer time would only cause disruptions to learning in the classroom. Though that may be partially true, CHS has implemented prayer times respectably for students in the past without issue.
To the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees and the Texas Legislature; students are able to attend pep rallies and assemblies that take hours away from instructional time. We are allowed water and bathroom breaks during class. Is five minutes of prayer time too much to ask for?
This story was originally published on Coppell Student Media on October 22, 2025.