Families urged to familiarize themselves with their rights, process to request religious accommodations and document incidents of bullying or harassment
As students across Maryland prepare to return to school, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced the release of two new resources designed to help families navigate public school systems, understand their rights and respond effectively to bullying, harassment and discrimination during the 2026-27 academic year.
The resources are available free to students, parents, guardians, educators, school administrators and community advocates:
DOWNLOAD: 2026 Maryland School Bullying Prevention Toolkit
DOWNLOAD: 2026 Resource Guide: Families’ Rights and Reasonable Accommodations in Maryland Public Schools
“As families prepare for a new school year, we want every student to enter the classroom feeling safe, supported and empowered, and every parent to know they have tools available to advocate for their child,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “No student should be forced to choose between receiving an education, practicing their faith and being treated with dignity. These resources are intended to help families be proactive, recognize problems early, communicate effectively with schools and take informed action when a student’s rights or well-being are at risk.”
2026 Maryland School Bullying Prevention Toolkit
Bullying and harassment can take many forms, including verbal abuse, physical intimidation, social exclusion, cyberbullying, threats, targeting based on religious clothing or identity, and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian slurs and stereotypes.
CAIR Maryland’s updated toolkit is designed to help families identify, document and report concerning behavior. It includes a printable ‘School Bullying and Harassment Complaint Form’ that can be used to create a clear written record of an incident and the school’s response.
The toolkit encourages families to:
- Speak regularly with children about their school experiences and take reports of bullying or harassment seriously.
- Document each incident, including the date, time, location, witnesses, statements made and any physical or emotional impact.
- Preserve screenshots, emails, photographs, videos, medical records and other relevant evidence.
- Report incidents promptly and in writing to the appropriate teacher, counselor, principal or school administrator.
- Request confirmation that the complaint was received and ask what steps will be taken to protect the student.
- Keep copies of all complaints, correspondence and school responses.
- Follow up if the conduct continues, retaliation occurs or the school’s response is inadequate.
Families should not rely exclusively on verbal conversations when reporting serious or repeated conduct. Written documentation helps establish a timeline, preserves important details and creates a record of the school’s response.
DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT: https://bit.ly/md-antibullying
2026 Resource Guide for Maryland Public School Families
CAIR Maryland’s public school resource guide helps families better understand how to navigate Maryland school systems and advocate for students participating in primary and secondary public education.
The guide provides information concerning families’ rights and reasonable accommodations in public schools, including issues that may affect Muslim students and other students whose religious beliefs or practices require accommodation.
Families may use the guide when communicating with schools about matters such as:
- Religious observances and excused absences.
- Prayer and other sincerely-held religious practices.
- Religious attire, including hijab and other faith-based clothing.
- Dietary needs and access to appropriate meal options.
- Participation in physical education, athletics, and school activities.
- Privacy and modesty concerns.
- Bullying, harassment, and discriminatory treatment.
- Family engagement and communication with teachers and administrators.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to submit accommodation requests as early as possible, preferably in writing. Requests should explain the student’s need and the accommodation being sought. Families should retain copies of all correspondence and ask the school to provide its response in writing.
DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCE GUIDE: https://bit.ly/2026-md-schoolresourceguide
Recommended Back-to-School Steps for Families
Before the school year begins, CAIR encourages parents and guardians to:
1. Review the school’s student handbook, nondiscrimination policy, bullying-reporting process and religious accommodation procedures.
2. Discuss religious or cultural needs with children and identify any accommodations they may require.
3. Contact teachers and administrators early rather than waiting for a conflict to arise.
4. Submit requests and concerns in writing and retain copies for personal records.
5. Encourage children to immediately report bullying, harassment, threats or discriminatory treatment to parents and a trusted adult.
6. Monitor changes in a child’s mood, attendance, academic performance, sleep or willingness to attend school.
7. Escalate unresolved concerns through the school’s administrative process when necessary.
8. Contact CAIR if a student experiences possible discrimination, denial of a reasonable religious accommodation, targeted harassment or an inadequate institutional response.
Students should be reminded that bullying is never their fault, that seeking help is not “snitching,” and that they should not retaliate physically or place themselves in danger. If a student faces an immediate threat of harm, families should prioritize the student’s safety and seek emergency assistance when appropriate.
Guidance for Educators and School Leaders
CAIR urges educators and administrators to proactively foster safe, inclusive learning environments by:
- Responding promptly and consistently to reports of bullying and bias.
- Keeping parents informed promptly regarding incidents involving their children.
- Communicating reporting procedures clearly to students and families.
- Protecting students who report misconduct from retaliation.
- Engaging families respectfully when accommodation requests arise.
- Avoiding assumptions about students based on religion, race, ethnicity or national origin.
- Ensuring staff understand applicable nondiscrimination and religious-accommodation obligations.
- Taking anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian harassment as seriously as other forms of identity-based bullying.
- Working collaboratively with families to resolve concerns before they escalate.
CAIR invites mosques, parent organizations, youth groups, educators and community leaders to circulate both resources widely through newsletters, school-supply drives, orientations, parent meetings and community social-media channels.
Families seeking guidance or wishing to report possible discrimination, harassment or denial of a religious accommodation may contact CAIR’s Maryland office at [email protected] or (410) 261-6544
REPORT AN INCIDENT: https://www.cair.com/report
Note: Submission of an incident report does not guarantee legal representation. These resources provide general educational information and are not a substitute for legal advice concerning a specific situation.
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, [email protected], 410-971-6062; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]