Fairfax County Schools to add four religious holidays

The Fairfax County School Board is considering adopting a calendar for the 2021-22 school year with four new religious holidays: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Diwali, and Eid al Fitr.

Two options were presented to the school board June 18. The only difference is that one version has an additional student holiday and ends the school year a day later. The school board is expected to approve a school calendar on July 23. 

Here are the main highlights for the proposed 2021-22 FCPS calendar: 

• The school year would start Monday, Aug. 23.
• Schools would be closed Sept. 7 for Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 16 for Yom Kippur, Nov. 4 for Diwali, and May 3 for Eid al Fitr. 
• Winter break would be Dec. 20-31. 
• Spring break would be April 11-15. 
• Schools would be closed Nov. 24-26 for Thanksgiving. 

Version A has the school year ending on June 16. Under Version B, there would be an additional student holiday on Oct. 11 paired with a professional development/student holiday on Oct. 12, and the school year would end June 17.