JCRC Statement
February 8, 2026
The following is a statement from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
“As one of the largest and most diverse school districts in America, Montgomery County Public Schools has a special obligation to consider significant minority-faith religious holidays when planning or making changes to its school calendar. MCPS has in fact become a regional leader in adopting and sustaining an equitable calendar that includes school closures on days coinciding with minority-faith observances, including the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
“We recognize and appreciate the need for MCPS to address considerable lost learning time due to the recent winter storm. However, we are dismayed that the district has chosen March 20 as a make-up day, which is when Muslims mark their holiest festival, Eid al-Fitr.
“Whether intentional or not, MCPS’ decision is hurtful to our county’s Muslim community and is a step backwards for the school system. Families should not unexpectedly be forced to choose between religious observance and school instruction because of a storm. We hope MCPS will reconsider this decision and find an alternative solution that meets the academic needs of its students while honoring the values and principles of equity, respect, and inclusion that underpin MCPS’s school calendar. It is possible, and indeed necessary, to prioritize both.”