Montgomery County Public Schools reverses calendar decision following pressure from Council on American-Islamic Relations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Maryland’s largest public school district has restored Eid al-Fitr as a non-instructional day after initially designating the date as a snow makeup day, following advocacy efforts led by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
According to a Judicial Watch report, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), which serves approximately 156,500 students across 211 campuses, had reassigned March 20 as a snow makeup day after losing five instructional days to severe winter weather. The date had previously been marked as a non-instructional day coinciding with Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
Muslim advocacy groups, led by CAIR’s Maryland chapter, objected to the change. In a local media report, CAIR Maryland Executive Director Zainab Chaudry described the calendar adjustment as “troubling news” and compared it to eliminating observances for Yom Kippur, Easter, or Christmas. “We want the same dignity and response for the Muslim community as well,” she said.
Following the backlash, the district reversed its decision. In a public statement, CAIR said it welcomed the “swift advancement of emergency legislation” in the Maryland General Assembly that provided flexibility to adjust the academic calendar. The organization described Eid al-Fitr as a sacred holiday for thousands of families in the district and thanked Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and the Montgomery County Board of Education for working with lawmakers to resolve the matter. CAIR also acknowledged the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee for fast-tracking legislation enabling the calendar change.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of CAIR’s role in public institutions. Judicial Watch previously reported that CAIR has partnered with public schools in Pennsylvania and Delaware on initiatives aimed at increasing inclusivity. As part of those efforts, CAIR has promoted educational materials such as “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices”, which explains concepts including jihad as an internal struggle rather than violence, and states that oppression of Muslim women is tied to cultural practices rather than Islamic doctrine.
Another instructional resource cited in the report is “Remembering and Reflecting: Teaching September 11, 2001 in Diverse Classrooms”. The guide advises educators to avoid terms such as “Islamic terrorists” or “radical Islamic terrorists” and encourages discussion of anti-Muslim bigotry and hate crimes when covering topics related to the aftermath of the 2001 attacks.
Judicial Watch has also pointed to CAIR’s history in federal investigations. The organization was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal terror-finance case involving the Holy Land Foundation, as outlined in court documents here. CAIR was founded in 1994 by Omar Ahmad, Nihad Awad, and Rafeeq Jaber, individuals previously associated with the Islamic Association for Palestine.
In past years, CAIR has advocated for changes to law enforcement and military training materials that it deemed discriminatory. Judicial Watch published a detailed report examining federal anti-terrorism training revisions and has documented instances in which police departments and the military eliminated certain instructional materials following advocacy campaigns, as described here. The organization also issued a prior special report analyzing the operations of Muslim nonprofit organizations in the United States.
Montgomery County Public Schools has not publicly characterized the decision as the result of pressure but confirmed the calendar adjustment following legislative action. The development highlights ongoing debates over religious accommodation, academic scheduling, and the influence of advocacy organizations in public education policy.
Original article
Comments