A new law that gives Hindu students three religious holidays per year will go into effect for the 2025 school year.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The bill’s co-sponsor, Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg), is the first Hindu American State Senator in Ohio history, according to a press release.
TRENDING STORIES:
- ‘Can never be replaced;’ Decades worth of local family’s memories destroyed in camper fire
- Local store closures limit shoppers: Is online shopping the solution?
- Local nursing home resident tests positive for Legionnaires’ disease, water testing underway
The new law requires all K-12 schools in Ohio to allow Hindu students religious holidays, where they can be absent without it affecting their attendance, for Diwali and two other holidays per year.
The bill specifies that schools can not penalize students academically, and requires schools to provide reasonable alternatives for any missed exams. The school must also allow students to participate in extracurricular activities, even if they take a day off due to a religious holiday.
“Every Hindu student in Ohio will be able to take school off as a holiday for Diwali beginning in 2025 and then for the rest of history. This is an incredible victory for Hindus in Ohio,” Antani said.
The bill also states that a parent must send a signed letter to the principal of the school stating which days the student will be taking off, and the principal will approve the days.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
