New York City public schools to have Muslim holidays off

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is following through on a campaign promise — New York City public schools will now observe two Muslim holidays.

With roughly 1 million students, the nation’s largest public school district will observe Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, starting next Sept. 24, and Eid al-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during summer school starting in 2016.

CNN reports almost 1 million of the more than 8 million people in the city's five boroughs practice Islam and a 2009 Columbia University study found that roughly 10 percent of New York City public school students are Muslim.

"Muslim students and their families … shouldn't have to choose between an instructional day and their religious obligations," city schools Chancellor Carmen Farina told CNN. "This new addition will also enable a teachable moment in the classroom for our students to learn about religious tolerance and the societal contributions of various cultures."

New York City isn’t alone. Districts in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Vermont already observe Muslim holidays.

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