2025-26 Maryland School Climate Survey

[Zainab Chaudry]

Asalamualaikum, 

Each academic year, CAIR's Maryland office processes many complaints from Muslim families whose children are bullied, harassed and discriminated in Maryland public schools by both peers and educators. Examples include cases where students' hijabs are forcibly removed, students are insulted and called names, and where they are made to feel responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks. 

CAIR is committed to making sure our schools are safe spaces for all of our children. That's why we're taking our battle to the state capital of Annapolis to call for stricter laws and policies to protect Muslim children and seek greater accountability from schools. 

To help us do this effectively, CAIR Maryland has launched our 2025-26 Maryland School Climate Survey aimed at Muslim students in grades 6-12 in Maryland public schools. Your participation in this survey will:

• Help us understand how Muslim students across the state experience school climate, including issues of bullying, exclusion, and fairness.
• Provide real data to support advocacy with schools, districts, and policymakers.
• Contribute to stronger protections, staff training, and inclusive practices for our students

If you are a Muslim student currently enrolled in Maryland public middle or high schools (Grades 6-12), we encourage you to anonymously, safely and confidentially take this survey. 

Survey details:

Approximate time: 5 minutes to complete

Format: Fully anonymous — no names, no school IDs, no email addresses, no IP tracking. 

Available online via this link: Take the Survey → bit.ly/mdsurvey202526

Contact for questions: mdout...@cair.com

Parent/Guardian information:

If your student is under 18, please review the Parent/Guardian Information section included at the top of the survey which outlines how their participation is protected under IRB and FERPA guidelines. Participation by minors is voluntary and is limited to students who identify as Muslim and are currently enrolled in a Maryland public school in grades 6-12. 

Privacy & Ethics:

The survey does not collect personally identifying information, will report only in aggregated form, and will not identify individual students or schools. 

The more voices we capture, the stronger our advocacy will be in support of safer school policies for Muslim children in our state. 

Take a few moments to participate and share this survey with other families across Maryland. Your experiences and voices can help shape safer, more inclusive school environments for generations to come.

Jazakumallahu khairun. 

Zainab Chaudry

CAIR Maryland

__________________________________

Zainab Chaudry, Pharm.D. Director, CAIR Maryland  ​​​ CAIR Office in Maryland 6120 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 2D Baltimore, Md. 21228 Cell: 410.971.6062

www.cair.com

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