`School mosque' proposal raises legal concerns. (AU Bulletin).

A Pennsylvania public school's efforts to accommodate the worship requests of Muslim students and staff must meet constitutional guidelines, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has warned.

Philadelphia's Olney High School is considering a proposal to set aside space for Friday communal prayers required by the Islamic faith. Americans United contacted Olney Principal Edward Monastra and School District Chief Paul Vallas about the effort in August, urging the school officials to remain cognizant of First Amendment concerns while working to find ways to allow voluntary religious worship.

"We applaud your efforts to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of your diverse student body and staff," AU Legal Director Ayesha Khan wrote on Aug. 7. "However, we urge you to do so in a way that comports with constitutional principles."

In order to comply fully with church-state law in this area, Khan said the school must ensure that students and staff who participate in the prayer gather in separate groups. In addition, Khan's letter asks school officials to refrain from setting aside a specific room at the school as the "permanent" location for Friday prayers.

"Such a designation would be akin to the creation of a `school mosque' and would convey the unconstitutional message that the school favors and prefers Islam over other religions," Khan wrote.