Students Who Are Religious Minorities Should Have the Right To Celebrate Their Holidays Without Penalties
56% of Muslim students reported feeling unsafe in schools, according to the latest CAIR-CA Bullying Report. Fostering inclusion and celebrating diversity addresses the “other-izing” students experience by creating a sense of belonging. K-12 students across California are currently being denied excused absences for religious reasons, including religious holidays, due to the law limiting excused absences to 4 hours. This bill expands those 4 hours to 8 hours and offers excused absences based on religion to expand beyond only holidays—thus protecting religious freedoms, fostering cultural and spiritual enrichment, and promoting inclusion.
Urge Governor Gavin Newsom to protect the religious expression of California’s students by signing AB 1503 into law.