Community Announcement: Back to School 2026 — Equipping Families, Educating Schools, Combating Islamophobia
(New Jersey, September 10, 2026) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is proud to announce the publication and statewide distribution of new Back to School resources designed to support Muslim students and families and help educators better understand and accommodate Muslim students.
Educating Educators
CAIR-NJ’s Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices provides teachers, administrators, and school districts with practical information about Muslim religious practices, including prayer, Ramadan, Eid, halal food, and religious accommodations, while also addressing misconceptions and curriculum issues.
SEE GUIDE HERE: Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
The guide was emailed to 2,400 educators and school administrators across New Jersey, with 70+ hard copies also distributed to schools with a large Muslim population across the state.
Teaching 9/11: Context, Sensitivity, and the Muslim Experience
The Educator’s Guide also features a 9/11 curriculum unit plan designed to help educators approach the teaching of 9/11 with greater cultural awareness and sensitivity, including consideration of the experiences and perspectives of Muslims.
SEE UNIT PLAN HERE: 9/11 Curriculum Unit Plan
Empowering Parents & Students
CAIR-NJ’s Back to School Resource Guide for Parents and Students equips Muslim families with information and resources to navigate the new academic year and advocate for their rights and religious accommodations in school.
SEE GUIDE HERE: Back to School Resource Guide for Parents and Students
The guide has been published online and shared through email and social media, with hard copies also being mailed to community members and centers across the state.
Helping Parents Address Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
CAIR-NJ has also produced a Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Guide to help parents understand New Jersey’s HIB process, recognize when an incident may constitute HIB, and understand how to file a HIB complaint with their child’s school.
SEE GUIDE HERE: Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Guide
A Proactive Approach to Combating Islamophobia
Together, these resources are part of CAIR-NJ’s proactive effort to curb anti-Muslim hate, and misconceptions about Islam in the classroom, while helping make New Jersey’s public schools more welcoming and accommodating for Muslim students.
“Education is one of the most important tools we have to combat hate,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut.
“These resources allow us to approach this work from multiple angles, equipping educators with the knowledge to better serve Muslim students while empowering parents and students to understand and advocate for their rights.”
Accessing the Resources
CAIR-NJ encourages educators, school administrators, parents, students, and community organizations to utilize and share these resources throughout the academic year.
Anyone who would like a hard copy of any of these resources can contact the CAIR-NJ office at info@nj.cair.com or submit this form.
