As students across the country head back to school, growing religious diversity presents some challenges to school administrators when it comes to the academic calendar. But they can be overcome with just a little bit of sensible flexibility. Nashville, Tennessee schools have found reasonable accommodation is not so difficult after all.

Fifty years after the United States Supreme Court banned official prayers in public schools, religion remains alive and well on school campuses. That’s because the same First Amendment that bars government-sponsored religion also gives students ... the right to freely practice their faith.

“We have a diverse student population that represents more than 120 countries and make accommodations for religious holidays and practice,” Olivia Brown, director of communications for Metro Nashville Public Schools, wrote in an email.

Those accommodations are allowed by federal law and by the Tennessee Student Religious Liberty Act, passed in 1997.

The article cites numerous examples: an Orthodox Jewish family that provides the dates of religious holidays to teachers on the first day; Muslim students given a space to pray before lunch; A Jehovah's Witness student is not required to participate in patriotic holiday or birthday celebrations.

It takes cooperation and understanding, but can be done. The public school calendar can coexist with students' religious observance needs.