AUSTIN, Texas — A religious nonprofit organization is pushing back against Austin ISD over its decision to keep schools open on Good Friday.

Texas Values sent a letter to the district's board and Superintendent Matias Segura, asking that the district bring Good Friday back as a student holiday.

AISD approved the change when it approved its calendars for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years last December. Instead of taking off on April 3, 2026, students and staff will get March 31 off for Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day. AISD has recognized that holiday since 2019.

During the 2024-25 school year, AISD students had Good Friday off on April 18, and it was a staff development day.

In a statement, Mary Elizabeth Castle, the director of Government Relations for Texas Values, said:

“It a

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