PGCPS to Use Eid Holidays as Make-Up Days; Muslim Families Say Rollback

Prince George’s County Public Schools has placed two major Muslim holidays on its 2025‑26 list of potential inclement‑weather make‑up days, listing Eid al‑Fitr on March 20, 2026, and Eid al‑Adha on May 27, 2026, as conditional instructional days if emergency closures require makeup time. The calendar entries identify March 20 as “Professional Development – Schools Closed for Students (Potential inclement weather make‑up day1)” and May 27 as “Eid al‑Adha – Schools and Offices Closed (Potential inclement weather make‑up day1).” The move prompted immediate objections from Muslim families, student leaders and elected officials who say the action reverses prior accommodations.

PGCPS’ published calendar shows Ramadan beginning at sunset on February 17, 2026, and ending March 18, 2026, with the calendar expressly noting Eid al‑Fitr “starts sunset of 3/19.” The calendar’s WEATHER MAKE‑UP DAYS language lists possible makeup instructional dates as October 2, 2025; March 20, 2026; May 27, 2026; and June 15, 16, 17, 2026, and states the system must meet “180 student days and 192 teacher days (195 for new teachers).” The calendar cautions that “If no emergency closure days occur, the school year will end for students on Friday, June 13, 2026, as shown,” while another line also lists June 12 as the last day for students, reflecting conditional scheduling tied to use of makeup days.

District officials say the change responds to lost instructional time and state law requiring a minimum of 180 student days. PGCPS says it is requesting a waiver from the Maryland State Department of Education and will update the calendar “once the waiver outcome is decided and any necessary approvals are secured.” The district also stated, “Prince George’s County Public Schools takes the religious and cultural observances of our community seriously.” Local reporting indicates PGCPS faced making up a total of eight instructional days after severe winter weather this season.

Community leaders have organized rapidly. Jameel Aalim‑Johnson, president of the Prince George’s County Muslim Council, said, “It was Prince George’s County Muslim Council that worked with the members of the Board of Education and the former CEO to get Eid as a day off, both for students and faculty and administrators... So this is the first time that we’re dealing with them using our holidays as a make‑up day for inclement weather.” Prince George’s County Councilmember Eric C. Olson (District 3) told Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph and Board Chair Branndon Jackson the decision “goes against the school system’s values and implies a religious hierarchy.” Chaudry, of CAIR, urged the State Department of Education to grant the district a waiver and said local school families have sent more than 10,000 letters to the state asking that Eid remain a noninstructional day.

Neighboring Montgomery County Public Schools took a different path: after designating March 20 as a possible makeup day, MCPS walked back that plan following criticism, and the State Board of Education denied MCPS’ waiver request. Officials warned of financial consequences for extending the year: Taylor said each additional day added to the end of the calendar will cost the district $2.1 million. An MCPS parent, Wael Elkoshaire, said, “I think it was probably a poor decision that just needs to be looked at and so we're looking for them to just choose another day to make up, to make sure the school year is complete even if they have to add another day to the end of the school year.” Both districts have said they would grant Muslim students an excused absence to observe Eid if instruction occurs on those dates.

The Maryland State Board of Education was scheduled to consider waiver requests on Feb. 24; PGCPS has submitted a waiver request and is awaiting the outcome that will determine whether the conditional makeup designation remains. Until the state acts, the PGCPS calendar will list March 20 and May 27 as potential makeup days while community advocacy and formal waiver review proceed.