Houston ISD’s 2025-26 final proposed draft of the calendar for the 2025-26 academic year does not include a holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two major religious festivals for Muslims. The district had implemented a school holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr in 2023. The local Muslim body has objected to the decision and demanded that the district restore the holiday.
CAIR-Houston Expresses Disappointment:
The Houston chapter for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR-Houston, asked the district to restore Eid as an observed holiday. Will White, director of CAIR-Houston, expressed his disappointment with HISD’s decision and hopes they reconsider and make the right choice.
“It’s a real disappointment right now,” said Will White, director of CAIR-Houston. “We hope HISD will see that this is the wrong move to make and that they will rescind this and hopefully make the right decision.”
HISD’s Initial Decision to Observe Eid:
HISD started giving students a day off school for Eid in 2023 at the request of a local multi-faith organization. The district mentioned that previous school holidays were added based on requests from stakeholder groups and had majority support during stakeholder engagement opportunities.
“It was a promising move to include the Eid holiday for the first time, but then removing it the very next year is very disappointing,” said White.
The Houston ISD said in a statement that it “values the remarkable diversity that makes Houston a vibrant community,” adding that it sought feedback from families and staff while creating the school calendar for the upcoming year.
“When creating the school year calendar, the district took into account the feedback it received and tried to find a balance between instructional days with observance of various holidays,” the district stated.
Last week, HISD’s state-appointed board of managers approved the calendar for 2025-26, but there was no discussion on the Eid holiday at the meeting.
Concerns from Muslim Families:
Muslim parents are also expressing concern over the decision. Sana Younus, a Muslim mother of two children who attend HISD, described Eid as a time for coming together, working as a team, and supporting not only our connections with others but also our community.
“The prayers that many Muslims offer in the month of Ramadan are about coming together,” said Yunus, whose one child is in primary school and the other in high school. “Eid prayers are offered collectively, so it’s surprising that the district chose not to acknowledge it. It doesn’t seem right. It feels like we are being left out.“
Approximately 200,000 Muslims reside in the greater Houston area, which is the biggest Muslim population in Texas. Additionally, HISD is the largest school district in the state.
Eid is a two-day holiday that celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It falls on a different day each year based on when the moon is sighted.
Unequal Holiday Recognition?
In the school year 2023-24, Eid was on April 10, 2024, and HISD students had the day off for a “Spring Holiday.” Good Friday was also a day off that year. However, in the school year 2024-25, the district isn’t taking a day for Eid, which falls on a weekend this year.
In 2026, Eid is expected to start on Thursday, March 19. The only holiday scheduled for March 2026 in HISD is Chavez-Huerta Day on the last Monday of the month. Good Friday falls on April 3 in 2026 and is marked as a day off from school. The school calendar also includes a day off for Oct. 2 in observance of Yom Kippur, the most important day in the Jewish religion.
Impact on Muslim Students
Younus mentioned that she had to take her children out of school for Eid in the past. She is hopeful that won’t happen again next year because she is concerned about her kids falling behind in school.
‘I would want them to join the celebration and the congregation and the prayer on that day,” she said. “But I am also worried about not knowing what that day will be like at their school, whether there will be a test or assignment due. I will have to consider that carefully when the time comes.”
White stated that the district’s choice has raised concerns among many Muslim families in Houston.
“We are worried about HISD students who have to miss school for religious holidays while other students get time off to celebrate their own holidays,” White explained. “Those students have the chance to be with their families and practice their religion freely. Unfortunately, Muslim students do not have that same opportunity.”
HISD’s Assurance to Families
In its statement, HISD said students will not be punished for being absent on Eid.
“We want to assure the family that no student will be penalized for taking time out for Eid or any other religious holiday,” the district said. “Families who choose to keep their child at home for religious events will have the chance to catch up on any schoolwork they missed.
(Source: Houston Public Media)
