What's happening
This bill requires schools with significant populations celebrating certain cultural or religious holidays to close on those days.
Why it matters
Recognizes and respects the cultural and religious diversity within school districts. by requiring closures on major holidays observed by significant student populations, such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Vaisakhi, Good Friday, and Onam. This may help students and families feel more included and valued in their communities.
Establishes a clear population threshold (7.5% or greater). for mandatory school closure, ensuring that holidays are recognized in districts where they have substantial relevance, while allowing flexibility in areas where observance is less common.
Prevents schools from being penalized in state attendance/funding calculations. for closing on these days by allowing them to count these holidays as session days. This means districts can respect cultural observances without risking a reduction in state aid or failing to meet instructional day requirements.
Could set a precedent for broader recognition of minority religious and cultural observances. , potentially prompting further policy changes or discussions around inclusivity and accommodation in public institutions.
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Who cares
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Add Religious School Holidays
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Add Cultural School Holidays
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4038
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 26, 2019
Introduced by Sen. THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing certain school holidays
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3204-a to read as follows:
§ 3204-a. Cultural school holidays. 1. The following cultural or religious holidays shall be school holidays for any schools or school districts where the board of education or trustees determines such schools or districts have a significant population of students who observe such days: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Vaisakhi, Good Friday and Onam.
2. A school district having a population equal to or greater than seven and one-half percent of persons or ethnic groups, identified by the United States census bureau in the most recent decennial United States census, which observe the respective holidays named in subdivision one of this section are hereby authorized and directed to cause all public schools within such district to be closed on such days.
§ 2. Section 3604 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7-c to read as follows:
7-c. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of any calculation under subdivision seven or eight of this section, the commissioner shall disregard any reduction resulting from observance of Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Vaisakhi, Good Friday and Onam and, if necessary, such observed holidays shall be calculated as session days.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10085-03-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing certain school holidays
Purpose
The purpose of the bill is to avail students from different religious and cultural backgrounds to celebrate their traditional festivities with their family and community.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section 3204-a that allow school boards or trustees to determine certain cultural and religious festivities as holidays. It identifies the obser- vance of Eid alFitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Vaisakhi, Good Friday, and Onam. It also allows school districts with population equal to or great- er than seven and half percent of those ethnic and cultural groups to declare those days as holidays.
Section 2 adds a new subsection to Section 3604 of the education law that allow the commissioner to disregard any reduction resulting from observance of these traditional and religious days, and instead be calculated as session days.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
Justification
New York is a multi-cultural state. It is a melting pot of big and small communities of various religious and cultural backgrounds. It is esti- mated over one million of its population are Muslims, 80,000 Sikhs, some six million celebrate Good Friday, and about two million celebrate Diwa- li and Onam. Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Vaisakhi, Good Friday, and Onam are primary festivals for these communities and are widely celebrated throughout the state. They also serve as community building exercise and medium through which traditions and cultures are handed down to next generations. This bill would allow children from these communities to forge stronger bonds with family and friends with the opportunity to learn and appreciate their respective cultural and reli- gious heritage.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first on July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.