Students’ Cultural/Religious Observances Accommodations

Background

• The daily school routine will continue as scheduled, with classroom instruction, lunch, recess, and special programs all at their designated times.

• District policy Student Attendance #5100 states that students may have an excused absence from school for cultural or religious holidays. Families are required to notify the school's main office of the absence.
• If a student is absent and misses a test(s)or a major assignment(s), the teacher will provide an opportunity to make it up.
• Please inform the classroom teacher of any conflicts so accommodations are for your child.

Accommodation for Prayer

• District policy Prayer in School #5040 prevents or denies participation in constitutionally protected prayer in the district's schools, consistent with guidance issued by the United States Secretary of Education and applicable judicial decisions interpreting the religion clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. If your child requires accommodation for prayer, please notify your school principal. School leaders give the same importance when deciding on families' requests, cultural or religious or non-cultural or religious accommodation. Reasonable accommodations are available based on space and supervision, which are often time-limited, making it difficult to provide a separate location for these activities.
  • Accommodation of Prayer During Instructional Time| School leaders and classroom teachers make reasonable accommodations for students' religious beliefs and practices while considering the impact on other students during instructional time. 
  • Accommodation of Prayer During Non-Instructional Time| Students can engage in personal religious (i.e., prayer, meditation, etc.) or non-religious practices during non-instructional time in the same setting and under supervision.

Accommodation for Fasting

• School leaders make reasonable lunch accommodations for students fasting by creating "fasting" zones in the cafeteria, similar to already established "peanut-free" zones.
• Classroom teachers will attempt to make reasonable snack accommodations within the classroom, such as allowing students to engage in non-instructional activities.
• Teachers are encouraged to avoid scheduling tests or assigning critical assignments due on the day immediately following one of these cultural/religious days of observance, as students may be unable to study or may be affected by fasting or late-night observances.
• School leaders will ensure and encourage special area teachers such as music, art, library, and physical education to make individual accommodations for students on cultural/religious days of observances to ensure students can participate, as students may be affected by fasting or late-night observances.

Other Accommodations 

• School leaders will avoid scheduling school events on cultural/religious days of observance. 

• There are times when events or assessments on these days may be necessary and often out of the school's control.

 Accommodations Request Notification

Please inform your school's principal or your child's classroom teacher if your child will participate in any cultural or religious observances during the academic year. Families must notify school leaders or classroom teachers at least (5) school days before the date of cultural/religious observance. Valley Stream District 30 values open communication and welcomes you to contact us for support regarding specific concerns or needs.