NEW YORK: New York Governor Kathy Hochul approved legislation on Saturday to declare the Lunar New Year a public school holiday across the state.
The law requires all public schools to close for the Lunar New Year holiday to let hundreds of thousands of students of Asian descent celebrate the festivity.
By declaring Lunar New Year an official school holiday, the administration taking an important measure in recognizing the importance of New York’s AAPI community and the rich diversity that makes the state so great, Hochul said in a statement, referring to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, Xinhua reported.
Not Just a Day Off From School
She said that it is not just a day off from school – it is an opportunity for the children to learn about and celebrate their own or different traditions and cultures.
In 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared the Lunar New Year an official public-school holiday in New York City.
Earlier this year, the state Senate approved legislation that would allow students at university campuses to observe Lunar New Year without being penalized.
