School board considers policy allowing Muslim students to leave school early for prayer services
The school board of Howard County Public Schools in Maryland has agreed to considering continuing a school policy that allows Muslim students to leave school 20 minutes early on Fridays to attend prayer services. At least nine students leave early, but officials say the number may be higher. The policy was questioned after a policy review committee discovered the rules were being inconsistently applied. The review committee recommended to the board that students only be excused for religious holidays, not weekly prayers, reasoning that over the course of a year the policy results in a significant amount of missed instructional time. However, the board declined to accept the changes and instead will study the issue over the next school year. While recognizing an obligation to make reasonable accommodations to those wanting to practice their religion, board chairman Joshua Kaufman says the board will look at the impact of the policy on the teachers and whether the policy would be fair or would have unintended consequences for students of all religions.
WashingtonPost.comBy Joshua Zumbrun
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