SEATTLE — Seattle school district officials have apologized after an email sent to parents suggested that Muslim families should reconsider their observance of Ramadan so students could perform better on standardized tests.
The Seattle Times reports Superintendent Denise Juneau apologized Wednesday for the email sent earlier this week to families at Thurgood Marshall Elementary.
The Muslim holy month is marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset. It overlaps this year with the state scheduled tests.
The letter asked parents to consider allowing their students to not fast on testing days.
The school email prompted backlash on social media, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Washington called on the district to apologize.
School board member Zachary DeWolf also offered an apology for what he described as a "lack of cultural awareness."