The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) resolution recognizing the month of Ramadan in honor of the district’s Muslim students and families. CAIR-LA also commends the district for its commitment to supporting the well-being of all its students and providing an inclusive environment for them to practice their faith without hindrance.
SEE: LAUSD Recognizes and Celebrates the Month of Ramadan for our Muslim students and families
On Tuesday, March 11, the LAUSD Governing Board unanimously passed a resolution acknowledging the significance of the holy month for Muslims worldwide and renewing the district’s commitment to supporting Muslim students who choose to observe Ramadan.
As stated in the resolution, LAUSD will send a yearly bulletin to staff and families of students every year prior to the beginning of Ramadan with suggestions for how schools can support Muslim students during Ramadan. These suggestions include providing a comfortable space for students to go to during lunch periods instead of the lunchroom and offering free to-go meals for fasting students to take home. LAUSD will also support educators and staff looking to provide a brief lesson about Ramadan to promote inclusivity and understanding.
The efforts to introduce and pass the resolution were led by the Muslim Parent Association (MPA), an advocacy group dedicated to the education and well-being of Muslim K-12 students within LAUSD’s school systems.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“This resolution not only honors the important religious traditions of LAUSD’s Muslim students and families but also sets an important example for other school districts to implement similar resolutions where every student can feel respected and supported in their faith. It is crucial that schools not only acknowledge but actively support the diverse needs of their students. We commend the LAUSD Board for its commitment to fostering an environment of understanding and respect for its students.
“We also thank MPA for leading this important initiative, as well as the students, teachers, and community members whose efforts helped pass this resolution.”
SEE ALSO:
· How To Request Ramadan Meal Kits for Muslim Students
Last month, CAIR’s California chapter (CAIR-CA) released a resource guide to support Muslim employees, students, and community members in navigating school and the workplace during the month of Ramadan, including creating downloaded letter templates to assist Muslim employees and students in securing religious accommodations at work and school. CAIR-CA also sent letters to California school administrators providing education and advice on preparing for Ramadan.
Two CAIR-CA-sponsored bills that protect the rights of American Muslim students during the month of Ramadan were recently signed into law. AB 2377, authored by Assemblymember Luz Rivas, ensures that K-12 students observing religious fasting are given appropriate accommodation during physical education (P.E.) classes by offering them a modified exercise regimen or providing them with academic assignments related to the course. AB 1503, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, grants students K-12 students a full day of excused absence time per semester to observe religious holidays, such as Eid, without academic penalty.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com