iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The Broward County School Board in Florida has approved Diwali as a school holiday in 2025.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, December 17, unanimously by the sixth-largest school system in U.S.
The Diwali holiday now features on the official calendar of the Broward County School Board for 2025-26 session.
All schools under the board will now remain closed on October 20, facilitating around 35,000 students to partake in the celebrations, — mostly observed by the Hindu community around the world — without worrying too much about school assignments.
However, to make up for the holidays — which include the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr on April 6 and Jews’ Rosh Hashanah on September 23 and Yom Kippur on October 2 — the length of school hours for middle school students have been extended by 10 minutes to six hours and 40 minutes. No change has been made for high school and elementary school students.
“We are excited to share the 2025/26 school calendar with our families and community,” BCPS Superintendent Howard Hepburn said, as quoted by CBS. “We appreciated the valuable feedback from our educators, families, students and community for creating a schedule that supports optimal learning and well-being. Our goal is to provide a high-quality education in a supportive and inclusive environment, and this calendar will help us achieve that goal.”