Squadron, Meng to City: Make Lunar New Year a School Holiday

NEW YORK -- State Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Chinatown) and Assemblymember Grace Meng (D-Flushing) are reiterating their call on the City to make the Asian Lunar New Year a school holiday. 

Currently, a student who celebrates the holiday receives an 'excused' absence -- but it remains an absence on the student's record and results in the student missing class. In a letter sent to Mayor Bloomberg, the legislators write, "As representatives of two of the City's largest Asian American communities, we believe that making Lunar New Year a school holiday would help recognize the important role that Asian Americans have played in our city and state."  They urge the City to designate the day as a school holiday or professional development day to allow students to celebrate with their familes.

Senator Squadron and Assemblymember Meng also sponsor legislation [S27/A1883] that would establish the day of the Asian Lunar New Year as a school holiday in municipal jurisdictions with signifcant Asian American populations of at least 7.5 percent.

The full letter is attached below.

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