Dear parents,
As we are experiencing the last days of Ramadan, we at CAIR-Philadelphia wanted to provide you with an accommodation letter you may send to your school to request accommodation for your children. Please feel free to reach out to us with any concerns regarding this matter. Please also see the update below from Philadelphia Eid Coalition, specifically concerning the School District of Philadelphia.
Eid Accommodation Letter for Parents of Muslim Students:
Download Word Template (.DOCX)
My child, __________________________________________, in grade _________, will be absent on the following date(s) _____________________________________, to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr (“feast of fast breaking”) with the American Muslim community.
Eid al-Fitr celebrations begin on the day after the month of Ramadan. Typical festivities include congregational prayer, gatherings with family and friends, gifts, and entertainment.
My child will require a reasonable accommodation to be able to practice our sincerely held religious belief, and at the same time, ensure academic success. This includes providing sufficient time for makeup work, excused absences, alternative assignments, and other means to ensure that my child does not suffer a disadvantage for participating in Eid festivities.
Thank you for understanding the needs of my child by facilitating the accommodation(s).
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu, Director of Education and Outreach at the Philadelphia Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest non-profit Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization for Muslims in America at (617) 401-5397 or at atekelioglu@cair.com.
Date: _________________________
Signature : _________________________
Name: __________________________
Note that in the School District of Philadelphia, Eid was adopted as an official holiday in 2016. This is the result of the tireless work of the leadership of the Philadelphia Eid Coalition, including CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Committee Government Relations Chair Salima Suswell and our office. The 2019-2020 school calendar already reflects the Eid holiday.
In 2019, the Coalition worked with the school district and all principals received guidance to make accommodations for those students celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday, June 4, the last day of school. Teachers and staff celebrating on this day can use personal days or request leave for 1/3 pay after providing a letter from their faith institution.
Going forward, any Eid date that falls on a school day will be recognized on the calendar and School District of Philadelphia schools and administrative offices will be closed.
