We, the undersigned parents, families, students, and community members, respectfully ask the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) to adopt a district-wide practice of consulting its published Religious Observance Calendar before scheduling major student events.

“This petition was prompted by multiple school athletic events scheduled during Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest observances of the Jewish year, including a football game on Friday evening, September 11, 2026, and the Elementary Track Meet on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
 However, this is about much more than one track meet or one game.

Throughout the school year, students participate in athletic competitions, performances, academic competitions, testing, field trips, club activities, and other important school and district events. When these opportunities are scheduled on major religious holidays, students and families may be forced to choose between participating in school opportunities and observing their faith.

DCSD already publishes a Religious Observance Calendar identifying important holidays observed by members of our diverse community. If these dates are important enough to be identified by the district, they should also be considered when schools and the district schedule significant student events.

We recognize that scheduling for a large school district is complex and that not every conflict can be avoided. We are not asking DCSD to eliminate Saturday events because of Shabbat, nor are we asking the district to accommodate every religious observance. Instead, we ask that major religious holidays already identified on DCSD's own calendar be avoided whenever reasonably possible when scheduling significant student opportunities.

This request is not limited to Jewish holidays. The same consideration should be given to all major religious observances included on DCSD's published calendar, helping ensure that students of every faith have equal access to educational and extracurricular opportunities.

We respectfully ask DCSD to:

• Address the September 11, 2026 football game and reschedule the September 12, 2026 Elementary Track Meet so students observing Rosh Hashanah are not excluded from participating.
• Require schools and district departments to review the Religious Observance Calendar before scheduling major student events.
• Avoid scheduling major student events—including athletics, performances, competitions, testing, field trips, and other school or district-sponsored activities—on major religious observances recognized by DCSD whenever reasonably possible.
• Establish a clear scheduling review process so similar conflicts can be identified and prevented before calendars and events are finalized.

This is a simple request rooted in fairness, inclusion, respect, and equal opportunity. Students should not have to choose between practicing their faith and participating in meaningful opportunities offered by their public schools.

By taking religious observances into account at the beginning of the planning process, rather than after conflicts arise, DCSD can better reflect the diversity of our community and help ensure that every student has a meaningful opportunity to participate.