City public schools to close in observance of Muslim holidays
New York City will become the largest school district in the nation to recognize Muslim observances Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as holidays on the official school calendar, announced Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña on Wednesday, March 4 from P.S./I.S. 30 in Bay Ridge, where 36 percent of students were absent the last time Eid al-Adha fell on a school day.
One of those students was Farzana Ali, an eighth grader that, de Blasio said, had never missed a day of school in her life until Eid.
“We made a pledge to families that we would change our school calendar to reflect the strength and diversity of our city,” said de Blasio, calling the move a common-sense change. “Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honoring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending school.”