New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced that the city’s public schools will be closed for two Muslim holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in the coming 2015-16 school year.
Eid al-Adha falls on Sept. 24 next year so schools will be closed on that day. Eid al-Fitr, which falls over the summer in 2016, will be designated a holiday for those attending summer school.
De Blasio and Farina made the announcement at PS/IS 30 in Brooklyn, where 36 percent of students were absent the last time Eid al-Adha fell on an instructional day. The move comes as the Muslim population is swelling to about a million citywide with several hundred thousand in Brooklyn.
“We made a pledge to families that we would change our school calendar to reflect the strength and diversity of our city. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honoring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending school. This is a common sense change, and one that recognizes our growing Muslim community and honors its contributions to our City,” said de Blasio.
Under the Chancellor’s Regulations, students are allowed an excused absence from school for their religious and cultural observances. However, that excused absence can still come at the expense of missing critical classroom instruction, exams or projects. The DOE will continue to closely monitor spikes in absenteeism over holidays as it works toward its commitment to serve the needs of all students to ensure equality and respect for families and children of all faiths.
“Brooklyn has a proud and growing Muslim community, enriching neighborhoods from Bay Ridge to Boerum Hill,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Their culture and traditions are woven into the beautiful patchwork quilt that is our borough, where we know that celebrating our diversity makes us stronger. The decision by Mayor de Blasio and DOE Chancellor Fariña to make Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha school holidays is not only a significant sign of respect to Muslim families that want to meet their religious and educational duties without conflict, but it is an incredible opportunity to bring all of our City’s students closer together through cultural appreciation. Efforts such as these make me even prouder to be a New Yorker.”
Also championing the move was City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Public Advocate Letitia James.
“As a parent of three current New York City public school students, I am so proud of my city today for making history and incorporating Muslim holidays in the calendar of the largest public school system in the country. This is what New York City is all about – recognition, inclusion and respect. Mayor de Blasio promised 1 in 8 public school students that they wouldn’t have to choose between their education and their faith – and he delivered,” said Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of the Bay Ridge-based Arab American Association of New York.
