The Howard County Board of Education apologized to the district’s Muslim community this week for “communication failures” when deciding to schedule March 31 — the holiday Eid al-Fitr — as a full school day.

Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Families gathered for special prayers followed by feasts and holiday sweets starting Sunday after a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting. Muslims typically mark the holiday with family visits and outings, and children get new clothes.

Muslims pray, kids play and performers entertain at an Eid al-Fitr celebration at Gilbert Regional Park on March 31, 2024, marking the end of Ramadan.