Civil Rights Group Welcomes Fast-Tracking of Legislation for Calendar Adjustments, Calls on MSDE to grant waiver to Restore Eid in Prince George’s County Public Schools
(BALTIMORE, MD, 2/20/2026) — The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the restoration of Eid as a non-instructional day in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) following the swift advancement of emergency legislation Thursday in the Maryland General Assembly that provides the school system with the flexibility to adjust the school calendar.
SEE: MCPS Calendar Update
House Bill 1084 was voted out of the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday and advanced after the Maryland State Board of Education declined to grant a waiver to accommodate for weather related closures, despite thousands of emails from impacted families and residents seeking this accommodation.
The measure allows the school system to meet state instructional requirements with greater flexibility following severe winter weather disruptions by enabling the local Board of Education to satisfy either the 180-day minimum or the 1,080-hour minimum instructional requirement – ensuring that calendar adjustments do not come at the expense of religious observance or impose unnecessary financial strain on the district.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“We extend our gratitude to Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and the Montgomery County Board of Education for working diligently with the Montgomery County Delegation to find a solution that protects both instructional integrity and religious accommodation. Eid is a sacred holiday for thousands of MCPS families, and CAIR recognizes that due to the State Department of Education’s prohibitive policies, substantial effort had to be invested into restoring it on the calendar as a non-instructional day. We urge MSDE to grant a waiver to PGCPS so Eid can be restored on that county’s school calendar as well. CAIR is committed to working with MSDE and community stakeholders to amend and revise policies for more efficient solutions.”
The civil rights group also acknowledged House Ways and Means Committee Chair Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins for fast-tracking the legislation, as well as House Delegation Chair Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, members of the Montgomery County Delegation, and lawmakers who supported the measure.
As amended, the bill is structured as emergency legislation and includes safeguards to protect hourly wage employees and ensure appropriate use of contingency days.
Montgomery County has long been recognized as a leader in religious inclusion within public education. CAIR looks forward to continued partnership with MCPS and state lawmakers to ensure that Muslim students and families are able to fully observe religious holidays without penalty.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062(tel:410-971-6062); CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530(tel:404-285-9530), e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 (tel:202-744-7726), ihooper@cair.com