Optional school holidays are a terrific way to foster a more robust learning environment for students of faith. This policy ensures that students will never have to choose between academic success and faith. It also alleviates educators’ stress by limiting the number of makeup tests and allowing them to plan for attendance concerns. This policy is simply a tool to increase scheduling considerations for students of faith.
Should students choose between their faith and their education?
Multi-Faith Optional School Holidays
What Is An Optional School Holiday?
- An ‘optional school holiday’ is a term used to define a holiday that is optional and at the school district’s discretion for scheduling purposes.
- It is not bound by legal mandate and has no involvement with the official process to determine the school calendar.
Our Ask
- Eight holidays, including Eid ul-Fitr (Islam), Eid ul-Adha (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Rosh Hashanah (Judaism), Vaisakhi (Sikh), Diwali (Hindu), Immaculate Conception (Catholic), and All Saints Day (Christian) should be recognized as optional school holidays.
- Teachers should not schedule graded assessments for the day of and the next day during these holidays. Additionally, the district should not organize field trips, school pictures, club competitions, or dances these days.
- Presenting a note from their parent or guardian should be a valid excuse for the faith holiday. Absences should be excused, and students should not be penalized.
How Is It Done?
- Option A: The school board can propose this measure through a board resolution (see the second page)
- Option B: The superintendent can send this as a directive to relevant administrators
Precedent:
- Fairfax, Virginia, created optional school holidays for observances such as Eid ul-Adha, Rosh Hashanah, Día de Los Muertos, Diwali, Bodhi Day, and Three Kings Day.
- The School District of Philadelphia recognized Eid al-Adha, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Lunar New Year, Good Friday, and Eid-al-Fitr as school holidays in the 2021-22 school year.
Frequent Questions
What is an optional school holiday?
A holiday that is not mandatory for everyone and is at the discretion of the school district for scheduling purposes. It is not bound by legal mandate and does not have any involvement with the official process to determine the school calendar.
What holidays would be recognized as optional school holidays?
Eight holidays, including Eid ul-Fitr (Islam), Eid ul-Adha (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Rosh Hashanah (Judaism), Vaisakhi (Sikh), Diwali (Hindu), Immaculate Conception (Catholic), and All Saints Day (Christian) should be recognized as optional school holidays.
What are the responsibilities of educators in optional school holidays?
Teachers should not schedule graded assessments for the day of and the next day during these holidays. Additionally, the district should not organize field trips, school pictures, club competitions, or dances on these days.
How do you ensure children’s education is not disrupted by taking additional days off from school?
Multifaith Optional School Holidays do not force schools to close. Rather, it enables students to celebrate the holiday of their faith without fear of being penalized.
Curriculum and lesson plans will not be disrupted, although graded assessments will not be implemented on the day of the holiday. Similarly, tests and quizzes will not be scheduled for the day after.
How does this affect holidays that are already excused? Will these also become optional?
The procedure for holidays previously excused will remain unchanged. Multifaith Optional School Holidays will alternatively enable students of all faiths to celebrate their religion’s holy day without fear of academic repercussions.
How would absences be recorded on optional school holidays?
A note from a parent or guardian should be a valid excuse for the faith holiday. Absences should be excused and students should not be penalized.
How will educators benefit from this policy?
This policy alleviates educators’ stress by limiting the number of makeup tests and allowing them to plan in advance for attendance concerns.
How is this policy implemented?
There are two ways this policy can be implemented.
Option A: A school board can propose this measure through a board resolution (sample language provided upon request).
Option B: A superintendent can send this policy as a directive to relevant administrators.
Will students need to contact the school if they plan to miss school on those holidays?
Students should contact the school if they plan to miss class for a religious holiday in order for them to be marked as an excused absence. A signed email/note from a parent or guardian or a phone call in advance of the holiday would suffice.
What are the costs of implementing this policy?
There is no cost associated with implementing this policy. This policy is simply a tool to increase scheduling considerations for students of faith.
Questions?
Are you a policymaker, member of the media, or a prospective partner? Please feel free to give us a call, send us an email, or fill out our form.
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Phone: (281) 401-9229
Email: policy@minaretfoundation.com