Baltimore & Montgomery Schools Add Halal Options

In a progressive move that has been hailed by advocates and the Muslim community, Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) have introduced halal meal options for Muslim students. This initiative not only addresses the dietary needs of this demographic but also signifies a larger push toward an inclusive educational environment.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Maryland office (CAIR) lauded the schools for their initiative. Zainab Chaudry, CAIR’s Maryland director, remarked, “Offering halal meal options is a step forward in ensuring that observant students can remain true to their beliefs and still partake in all school activities, including communal meals.” She further emphasized the value of such decisions, adding that they pave the way for “an educational environment where students can flourish without sacrificing their religious principles.”

For the uninitiated, ‘halal’ is an Arabic term that translates to ‘permissible’. While it spans various aspects of daily life, its most common association is with food that adheres to Islamic dietary laws.

Such moves by schools, though commendable, are also a response to the challenges faced by Muslim students. CAIR’s Legislative Intern, Dua Hussain, shares her personal experience: “As a former public school student myself, the limited dietary choices meant resorting to pizza day in and day out. Initiatives that focus on halal meals give me optimism. Now, our students will have a wider, more accommodating menu to choose from.”

It’s worth noting that the initiative by BCPS and MCPS isn’t isolated. In 2021, the Atlantic City school district took a similar path, rolling out halal food options five days a week across several of its educational institutions. Further highlighting the national trend, back in 2018, New York City’s public schools earmarked a whopping one-million-dollar budget to serve both halal and kosher lunches for its diverse student body.

In line with these developments, CAIR has also taken a proactive role. They are urging Muslim families to engage with their schools actively and communicate their dietary preferences. Such conversations, CAIR believes, are pivotal in encouraging even more school systems across the country to embrace similar inclusive policies.