(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/30/22) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued a community advisory for Muslim parents who are seeking advice on religious accommodations, parental involvement in schools and parental notification.
CAIR’s advisory, titled “The Right to Participate in Your Child’s School, Education, and to be Informed,” includes sections on “The Right to Participate in Your Child’s School, Education, and to be Informed” and “The Right to a Reasonable Accommodation.”
The advisory states in part:
“Parental participation in your child’s school and education is a time-honored American tradition and civic responsibility. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the sweeping changes it brought to our nation’s education system, more parents than ever before have become involved in their children’s schools and education.
“From participating in school events, attending school board and parent–teacher association meetings, to volunteering in the classroom, to requesting more information about their child’s lesson plan, and other related academic resources – American parents are interacting more often with their children’s schools and faculty.
“Recently, more American parents are asserting their right to be informed about their children’s school life and what educational materials they have access to. As a parent, you have the fundamental right to request more information about your child’s classroom syllabus, course design, classes timetable, and lesson plans.
“As a parent, you have a reasonable expectation to be informed by your child’s school about any significant developments in their overall well-being, mental health, safety, and academic performance. Schools should not conceal from parents any information about significant changes in their child’s school life absent a legal process…
“As a parent, you have the First Amendment right to request your child’s school provide a reasonable religious accommodation for prayer, fasting, attire, and other related issues. You also have the First Amendment right to request that your child’s school excuse them from certain lesson plans, special educational programs, or other school activities that violate your family’s sincerely-held religious beliefs…”
READ THE FULL CAIR ADVISORY.
CAIR has developed template letters for parents to request reasonable religious accommodations for prayer and receiving an excused absence for celebrating Eid.
For more information on requesting information about how to participate and engage with your child’s school or request a religious accommodation, email info@cair.com, subject line: School Related Request
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offers a booklet, called “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” designed to help school officials provide a positive learning environment for Muslim students.
CAIR National’s 2022 Civil Rights Report, “Still Suspect,” documented various school-related complaints ranging from bullying, Islamophobic school curriculum, and holiday denials in 2021. Bullying is consistently one of the most common types of school-related complaints received at CAIR offices around the country.
SEE: 2022 Civil Rights Report: Still Suspect
https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Still-Suspect-Report-2022.pdf
Bias and Bullying in Public Schools: Mitigating the Impact on Muslim and Perceived-as-Muslim Students
A 2022 poll by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding reports that almost half (48%) of Muslim families with school-age children reported having a child who faced religious-based bullying in the past year, with one in five families saying their child faces such bullying on a daily basis.
SEE: American Muslim Poll 2022
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 National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com