Source: Newsday
Wire Service: AP
On January 10, 2006 the Associated Press reported, "Muslim parents and a city councilman criticized the city and state education departments for beginning testing of the state's elementary schoolchildren on Tuesday, the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha... The state set aside this week for testing of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. In New York City, schools began testing on Tuesday. City Councilman Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, said a letter had been sent to the education departments, calling on them not to hold testing on the holiday in the future... City education department spokesman David Cantor said there wasn't much the city could do once the state set the dates for the exams. State education department spokesman Tom Dunn said the calendar was consulted before the exams were scheduled to minimize religious conflicts and students who are legally absent because of religious observances can make up tests later."