No student testing on religious holidays

Public school students will no longer have to choose between taking standardized tests and celebrating their religious holidays. A new law, which went into effect on Labor Day, prevents the State Education Department from scheduling mandated exams during major religious holidays.
&#8220Countless Muslims will benefit from this law; it's very important because now we can be with our children during our auspicious holidays like Eid-al-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr,” said Iman Qazi Qayyoom, president of the Muhhamadi Community Center of Jackson Heights.
Nine months ago, Dr. Ghassan Elcheikhali, principal for the Razi School in Woodside, contacted State Senator John Sabini after fourth-grade testing was scheduled during the Muslin holiday of Eid-al-Fitr in January, and dozens of students at the Razi School - and children throughout Queens - had to take tests instead of celebrating with their families.
The two holidays of Eid, which are set into the Muslim's Moon calendar, are the most important in their religion.
In June, Sabini's bill, which had been amended to include all religious holidays and was brought before the Assembly by Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry, was unanimously passed by both legislative bodies into law.
&#8220The results of statewide exams follow young students all the way until their college applications, and no child should have their educational future put at risk because of some bureaucrats in Albany,” Sabini said.
For many of the estimated 1.1 million public school students and their parents, the law serves as recognition of their religious beliefs.
&#8220I’m happy that this law has passed so that people of all faiths can practice their religion without disruption,” said Rabbi Amnun Kahimov of the Congregation of Tifereth Israel of Corona.
Kahimov, along with Dr. Uma Mysorekar, president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Priest Seva Singh of the Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill, and Dr. Sumati Shah, President of Jain Center of America in Elmhurst, also joined Sabini and Aubry at a press conference announcing the law's application.
&#8220Jains are very religious people who care a lot about their education as well. They’re also a small population whose customs and holidays are not always acknowledged by the public,” Shah said. &#8220Thanks to this new law, my people will be recognized and allowed to practice two things they value - religion and education - to the fullest extent possible.”