Requests for Religious Accommodations in Seattle Schools

Perhaps this information on religious accommodations comes home with parents in the First Day packet but I have never seen it before. 

Background:

During the 2019-2020 school year, Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Education Association created a joint workgroup to address equity and evaluate inclusive considerations related to religious and cultural observances and practices in developing student and work calendars. The workgroup sought to develop the calendar using the negotiated calendar  formula (important dates) below, while also considering days which may have high impact on our communities. The goal of this calendar is to provide an at-a-glance look at the variety of religious holidays and observances to assist schools/teachers in planning important events, testing, and exam dates. 

While we can’t change school year dates to accommodate every religious/cultural observance, it is understood that students may end up missing school and important school events in order to honor their religious practices. Since our school district is so large, our communities vary in their diversity. As a result, the district recognizes individual schools know their community and are asking schools to consider the days of religious/cultural observances that would occur within their school community and the accommodations and supports that can be provided to students if schools are  unable to avoid scheduling educationally significant days on religious/cultural dates. 

 

Further, Washington state law and the district’s Superintendent Procedure 3121SP provides students an excused absence for the observance of a religious or cultural holiday. 

This guidance being provided is based on guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Excerpted Text

Seattle Public Schools affirms and supports our students and staff from all faith backgrounds. As a reminder, students and staff may request religious accommodations if needed. 

In order for students to be granted a religious accommodation, the student’s parent or guardian must submit a written request to the principal of the student’s school. 

Requests should be submitted in advance to allow the school to make appropriate arrangements and scheduling adjustments. If the request is for an excused absence for a religious event, that request must be made at least three days in advanced of the start of the planned absence in accordance with the district’s Attendance Procedure. 

The written request must state: 

1. The specific accommodation requested; 
2. Why the accommodation is needed; and 
3. The amount of time, duration, and frequency of the accommodation. 

A couple of lines I found interesting:

If the school personnel anticipate denying a request for a religious accommodation for a student, they should consult with the General Counsel’s Office prior to communicating that denial. 

I wonder how often that happens and what guidance Legal gives to the principal. 

If an absence is excused, the student will be permitted to make up all missed assignments outside of

class under reasonable conditions and time limits established by the teacher of the class. However, in participation-type classes, a student's grade may be affected because of the student's inability to make up the activities conducted during a class period if an alternative assignment that aligns with the learning goals of the activities missed is not reasonable.

This aims to expand the awareness about the multiple forms of diversity among our students and families, and the days that students may or not be at school due to religious observances and the days that students may be fasting. It may also be helpful to guide better times to schedule educationally significant activities when the date can’t be changed. For example, testing in the morning during periods when students eat at sundown.

I have to say that is some amount of work for both the principals and the teacher. The teachers would need to sit down before school starts up to scope out the work while keeping an eye on the calendar. For example, a teacher might NOT schedule a team assignment if they know some kids will not be able to participate fully.

I wonder if principals at some schools ask parents early on to state if they anticipate needing religious accommodations in the school year. Because that last paragraph implies using careful leeway about the testing schedule if some kids are fasting during the day for a religious holiday. 

Also, I may be wrong but I thought Muslim elementary-aged children don't participate in fasting so maybe the elementary schools would not have to figure out a workaround during testing.