3/4/2016
By Ivan Pereira
The city’s school students will be getting two extra days off to recognize a pair of Muslim holidays.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced Wednesday that starting in the 2015-2016 school year, schools will be closed in honor of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Under current rules, Muslim students could be excused from classes for their religious holidays but they would still miss a day of instruction.
“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,” the mayor said in a statement.
Eid al-Fitr falls on July 17 while Eid al-Adha falls on Sept. 24 this year. The city’s public school system joined other educational districts in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey in recognizing the days as school holidays.
