It’s a convergence of calendar and controversy that few saw coming. As the US prepares for the start of Ramadan 2026—expected to begin the evening of February 18—a fierce legislative battle is playing out in local school board meetings across Texas. The topic? A mandatory vote on whether to institutionalize “prayer time” in public classrooms.

While millions of Muslim Americans prepare for a month of fasting and reflection, Texas school trustees are racing against a clock of their own. The catalyst is Senate Bill 11 (SB 11), a state law that has forced every school district to publicly vote on a policy allowing designated time for prayer and religious reading. With a voting deadline of March 1, 2026, the tension between religious liberty, state mandates, and public school neutrality has reached a boiling point this February.

The Mandate: Senate Bill 11 Explained

Passed during the previous legislative session, Senate Bill 11 doesn’t automatically mandate prayer in schools. Instead, it employs a unique trigger: if a parent or guardian provides consent, the bill argues that schools must offer a chance for students to pray or read religious texts. However, the law requires school boards to take a recorded vote on whether to adopt this specific policy by the March deadline.

The Backlash and The Votes

The response has been anything but uniform. While some districts have quietly adopted the measure, a wave of rejections has made headlines.

• Lake Worth ISD and Liberty Hill ISD recently voted unanimously against the policy. Trustees in these districts argued that students already possess the Constitutional right to pray voluntarily and that formalizing a “prayer period” would create logistical nightmares and potential legal liabilities.
• Conversely, Vidor ISD has moved to implement the policy, with Superintendent Jay Killgo framing it as a “quiet time” for students of all faiths.

The Ramadan Connection

The timing could not be more critical. With Ramadan 1447 set to commence around February 18, 2026, Muslim students are entering a period where prayer (Salah) and spiritual focus are paramount. The debate over SB 11 has inadvertently highlighted the practical challenges religious students face—whether they need a formalized “prayer time” mandated by the state, or simply the flexibility to observe their faith without institutional interference.

The Impact

This isn’t just a Texas story; it’s a bellwether for how religious expression is being renegotiated in American public life in 2026. As districts cast their final votes before the March 1 deadline, the outcome will set a precedent. Will formalized prayer time become the new norm in red-state education, or will the logistical and constitutional hurdles prove too high? For now, all eyes are on the school boards—and the calendar.