Researcher(s)
- Amayah Sullins, Criminal Justice, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Eric Rise, Criminal Justice and Sociology, University of Delaware
Abstract
Generally, the United States is known as the land of the free. This is shown in the Constitution’s First Amendment, which guarantees the freedom of religion, stopping the government from establishing an official religion or preventing individuals from following their faith. However, many Muslim students face challenges practicing their faith in public schools, where access to prayer space is often limited or nonexistent. In Islam, the religion that Muslims believe in, prayer is a required action, done five times a day at specific time-sensitive intervals. Without designated spaces and supportive policies, students get stuck praying in hallways, locker rooms, or skipping prayer altogether.
While legal scholars and educators have researched religious freedom broadly, few studies focus specifically on the accessibility of individualized prayer for Muslim students in public school settings. Much of the existing research concentrates on curriculum content, dress code policies, or general accommodation laws, leaving a significant gap in understanding how these rights are, or aren’t, implemented for daily prayer needs. To better understand what public schools are required to do concerning religious accommodations, especially prayer, it’s important to look at what the American law actually says. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This part of the Constitution led to the creation of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, which were officially added in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights. They are supposed to protect both the right to practice your religion and the right to be free from government-imposed religion. This means that schools can’t favor one religion over another, but they also can’t stop students from following their religion. This is the legal basis for students’ right to express their religious beliefs, even during school hours.
In addition to the Constitution, federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Education, have also given schools advice on what kinds of religious expression are protected by law. In May 2023, the Department released updated guidelines clarifying that students are allowed to pray or engage in religious expression at school just like they can with any other type of personal expression. Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, all public elementary and secondary schools are required to follow these standards. This means that schools can’t stop a student from praying during breaks, like lunch or between classes, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the school environment. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also protects students from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. The U.S. Department of Education has made it clear that this includes protections for students who are targeted because of their actual or perceived religion, especially when their religion is linked to their ethnicity or ancestry, which is often the case for Muslim students. Adding another level of protection by making it clear that schools must allow religious practice and stop harassment or discrimination based on religious identity.
Even though the Constitution and federal laws protect these rights, the truth is that public schools paint a different picture. Students have the right to pray, but that doesn’t mean they have the space or support to do so. In reality, a lot of Muslim students still have trouble finding a quiet, private place to pray during the school day. Instead, they often have to pray in hallways, stairwells, or locker rooms, or not at all because they are afraid of being judged, don’t have privacy, or staff members just don’t know what they need. This gap between legal theory and real life raises important questions about how well these protections are being put into place. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue’s manifestation in real school environments, it helps to look at what researchers, legal scholars, and educators on the subject are saying. Several examined religious expression in educational institutions; however, a limited number concentrate specifically on Muslim prayer practices. Those that do offer important insight into the social, legal, and institutional factors that shape students’ ability to practice their faith freely.
Though they may be legally allowed to pray, Muslim students are uncertain about where, or even whether, they can pray during the day because many schools still do not have explicit policies regarding religious accommodations or designated prayer areas. This disparity between legal rights and actual experiences raises important questions about how well these protections are understood and implemented in everyday school environments. To better understand how this issue plays out in practice, it’s helpful to consult the perspectives of researchers, legal scholars, and educators. Several academic journals and policy reviews have examined religion in schools, but few zero in on the specific needs of Muslim students when it comes to daily prayer. Those that do offer valuable insight into the legal barriers, social stigma, and institutional inaction that continue to shape this ongoing challenge.