BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Calendar controversy. Muslim leaders are pushing to have equal recognition for Muslim holidays on school calendars in both Howard and Frederick counties. The move follows a similar fight in Montgomery County.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the push.

A coalition has been formed to fight for the rights of Muslim students.

Christmas and Rosh Hashanah are holidays that appear on school calendars across the state—but some say all students are not being treated equally.

“Our concern is that the Muslim community is being treated differently,” said Zainab Chaudry.

Chaudry is part of the Equality For Eid Coalition, pushing to have the Muslim holidays of Eid added to school calendars in both Frederick and Howard counties. She says right now, Muslim students are either forced to miss the holiday or miss school.

“When Eid falls on a school day, students are marked absent. It’s an excused absence but it’s still an absence so it ruins their perfect attendance; they miss classroom instruction, exams, quizzes,” Chaudry said.

The push follows a controversial move by the school board in nearby Montgomery County. Muslims there fought for Eid to be put on the calendar.

“As a staff person, I work for the school system. I want to be able to say that I am proud that I am taking a day off for my holiday, to celebrate my holiday,” said one.

The school board denied that request and went one step further.

“I think we need to be religion-neutral in our calendar,” said Patricia O’Neill, Montgomery County School Board.

That means the words Christmas, Easter and Yom Kippur are now replaced with winter break and spring break. It’s a move the coalition didn’t want to see.

“We don’t think that it’s fair to punish any other faith group in our quest for equality,” Chaudry said.

They just want recognition for their holy days, too.

Frederick County officials say they only close schools for holidays based on low attendance. Howard County schools did not return our request for comment.

There are six school districts in the United States that observe the Eid holidays. None of them are in Maryland.

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