Starting with the 2020-2021 school year, Baltimore County Public Schools won’t be open on Eid al-Fitr, which is a religious holiday in the Muslim religion. The school system would become the first in Maryland to close on the two Islamic holidays, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

There are no estimates of the number of Muslim children in the Baltimore County school system because the county doesn’t collect data on students’ religion.

CAIR “This historic victory is the culmination of a decades-long battle by local leaders to seek equal recognition for the county’s thousands of Muslim children,” said CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry. “It sends a message to Muslim students and parents that school officials are paying attention to their needs, and that they are valued, seen and heard.”

CAIR acknowledged Student Member of the Board Omer Reshid, and leaders Dr. Basher Firaoun and Muhammed Jamil for tirelessly championing this issue.

The long-awaited move comes after 30+ years of advocacy and efforts to seek Eid equality, and on the heels of the county’s first Muslim Student Member of the Board being elected to serve in that capacity.

Eid equality efforts are also underway in Montgomery County, Maryland where the school board agreed in 2015 to close schools for students on Eid but is reportedly considering calendar proposals for the school year 2020-21 which now leave school open on Eid.

Last week, CAIR called on the College Board to not schedule AP exams on Eid in 2021 to help local school boards be equitable to all of their student populations.