I am a rebbe in an elementary school and the school has some classes for Judaic studies in the afternoon. My class comes in at about 1230pm. The schedule calls for Mincha at that time. however, I realized that is too early.
Answer:
Davening too early is a problem, and you should be careful to daven from the correct time only (6 and a half hours).
On a bedieved level one who davens after Chatzos, even before 6.5 hours, fulfills the mitzvah according to most authorities – but this is only bedieved, and on a lechatchilah level one must make the appropriate arrangements to daven at the correct time.
Best wishes.
Sources:
For bedieved, see the Magen Avraham (233:1) and Peri Chadash; see also Mishnah Berurah (2) and Aruch HaShulchan (13). According to most authorities bedieved one fulfills the mitzvah, and even the Magen Avraham might concede that this is the case today, where we all have watches.
