Back to School Guide for K-12 Students

September 6, 2024

Muslim students in California are at a higher risk of bullying and discrimination than their non-Muslim peers. Since Oct. 7, students have experienced a surge in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bias and hate.

Every student has the right to a learning environment free from bullying, discrimination, and hate.

As the new school year begins, CAIR-LA wants to provide our community’s students with all the information they will need regarding their rights at school.

*This serves as a guide for students and does not constitute legal advice. If you need more direct assistance, please contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at 714-776-1177 (ext. #2).

Your Rights as a Student

California public schools have have the responsibility to provide an equal educational opportunity to all students.

Under California law, students have the right to:

  • Accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs.
  • An environment free of harassment, discrimination, and other forms of bias based on protected categories such as religion, race, and national origin.

Under California law, schools are obligated to:

  • Prohibit bullying based on protected categories such as religion, race, and national origin.
  • Make their bullying policy public.
  • Have a process in place for investigating complaints of bullying.

Additionally, if a teacher or other adult at the school is informed of bullying, they must do something to help the student.

What To Do if Your Child is Bullied at School
  • Report it to their teacher or other trusted adult at school.
  • File a Uniform Complaint with the California Department of Education.
  • Reassure your child they should not feel ashamed or embarrassed—it is not their fault.
  • Remind them not to retaliate with violence or name-calling—this could result in them being punished and not the bully.
  • Click here to report an incident or call our Civil Rights department at 714-776-1177 (ext. #2).

Students have a right to accommodation at school for sincerely held religious beliefs. Our Civil Rights team has provided a downloadable template for you to use to request an accommodation for your child. Please note that parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their children’s schools and teachers in advance and in writing, to request religious accommodations. 

*This template constitutes suggested material to empower you to advocate on behalf of yourself and/or your child. Please note that it does not constitute legal advice. Please use your personal judgment to adapt the content to your particular case. If you need more direct assistance, please contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department. 

What If My Request Gets Denied?

Federal and state laws generally protect a Muslim’s right to practice religion at school, however, this right is not absolute and depends on several factors.

Although schools are generally required to provide reasonable accommodation, you may not receive the exact accommodation you are requesting. They may even deny the request completely.

If either of these things happen, make sure to contact our legal team.

Every year, CAIR-LA sends a letter to educators and school administrators across the Greater Los Angeles Area to encourage their districts to collaborate with civil rights advocacy groups and experts to create a safe and welcoming environment for Black, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian students.

If you would like to send this letter directly to your child’s school, click the link below to download the letter.