Inside a Massachusetts public school where Muslim students get prayer rugs, prayer passes, and permission to step out of class for daily religious observance — a move suggested and facilitated by school administrators

Sunday, January 11, 2026
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MDN Staff
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The policy allows Muslim students to leave class or arrive late in order to pray during the school day

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WESTFORD, MASS. — A Massachusetts public high school has gone beyond simply allowing religious expression: Westford Academy has set aside a dedicated prayer room for Muslim students and put in place a pass process that can allow students to step out during the school day to observe daily prayers — an arrangement that, according to the school’s student newspaper, involved active support from school administrators.

Students affiliated with the Muslim Students Association now have access to a designated room inside the building, with prayer rugs placed on the floor. The setup also includes a pass system for using the space during the school day, including at times that may conflict with normal class attendance.

Public schools are required to respect students’ religious rights. But some parents and community members argue that this goes beyond basic tolerance and into a formal accommodation that changes how instructional time works (in a taxpayer-funded setting) — raising questions about where the line is between allowing religion and facilitating it.

This is not a case of students praying quietly on their own during lunch or a free period. The arrangement is structured: a dedicated room, physical religious materials, and an organized process for leaving class — effectively incorporating religious observance into the rhythm of the school day.

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According to Westford Academy’s student newspaper, the Westford Academy Ghostwriter, the prayer room effort was not purely student-driven. The Ghostwriter reported that staff, including administrative involvement, were involved early in setting up the space, including helping identify a room and assisting with materials.

That level of adult involvement is what has prompted quiet concern from some parents who question whether school administrators should be actively facilitating religious observance during class hours — rather than simply allowing students to practice their faith within existing breaks and schedules.

Mass Daily News has received at least one email from a parent who asked to remain anonymous, citing fear of repercussions because they still have a child enrolled at the school. The parent did not provide a publishable quote, but the message conveyed discomfort with the policy and with how it is being handled — suggesting some families may be reluctant to raise objections publicly.

In its reporting, the Westford Academy Ghostwriter described the prayer room as an inclusion-related measure meant to make students feel supported. Critics, however, argue that “accessibility” in public education has traditionally referred to accommodations like disability supports, language access, or academic services — not routinely stepping out of class for religious obligations.

Because Westford Academy is a public school, decisions about school space, staff involvement, and attendance expectations inevitably raise broader questions about oversight and accountability in a system funded by Massachusetts taxpayers.

The situation also raises a practical question that school leaders have not publicly answered: if one religious group is granted a dedicated space and formal flexibility during the day, will the school provide comparable accommodations to other faith groups that request them?

Public schools are expected to maintain neutrality on religion. Once an institution starts formalizing accommodations for one faith, critics argue, it may face pressure — legally and operationally — to offer similar treatment to others.

For now, the prayer room remains in use. Whether the line between accommodation and endorsement has been crossed may ultimately be decided not by students — but by administrators, parents, and taxpayers.

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