Austin, TX – March 20, 2026: Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura took a break during Spring Break to send a letter to parents in Austin ISD notifying them that Austin ISD will continue to close schools on March 31, despite the City of Austin cancelling events celebrating Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Day. Austin ISD will call the student and staff holiday, Dolores Huerta Day instead. However, Superintendent Segura makes no mention of whether students will be off for Good Friday, a holiday that Texas Values and many parents have repeatedly asked to be reinstated as a school holiday. Austin ISD students will still have to attend school on Good Friday, while the majority of other school districts have the day off. Students may be able to have the day off if their parents express their rights for an excused absence for religious observance.

Many Texas cities including Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Corpus Christi have cancelled their parades and events celebrating Cesar Chavez/ Dolores Huerta Day in light of the recent allegations that Cesar Chavez committed child sex abuse. Governor Abbott released a statement Wednesday that the state of Texas will not observe Cesar Chavez Day. Even left-leaning cities like San Diego have considered changes to the day of celebration and California Governor Gavin Newsom has considered renaming the day. Austin ISD’s choice to continue to close schools on this day is likely to create confusion when Austin and the state of Texas have cancelled events acknowledging this holiday. Dolores Huerta’s stances have broadened to contain more communist ideas and stances outside the original goals of the Farm Workers Movement, including her aggressive support for abortion and gay marriage. Notably, her stances on communism, abortion, and gay marriage are in opposition to the Christian faith that is being ignored by Austin ISD. Pope John Paul II and many prominent Christian leaders have spoken out against the dangers of communism.

Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations for Texas Values, said:

“Austin ISD was given a golden opportunity to re-arrange their calendar and close schools on April 3 (Good Friday) instead of on March 31, given that the City of Austin and Governor Abbott have cancelled the observance of Cesar Chavez Day. Instead Austin ISD has stubbornly decided to continue to ignore the request to observe the over 2,000-year-old religious holiday of Good Friday, because they view Christianity and the idea of a perfect man engaging self-sacrifice for the world as more controversial than the current events surrounding Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Day. Texas Values demands that Austin ISD email parents notifying them that Texas law allows students to have an excused absence for religious observance on Good Friday.”

Superintendent Segura says that in the coming weeks, the school district will “reflect” and “hold space” on the recent events surrounding Cesar Chavez Day. He also announced that there will be a meeting on March 26 to make updates to the school calendar.  Austin ISD also created a resource for parents on how to talk to their children about Cesar Chavez.

Texas Values sent out a statement earlier this week regarding the breaking news. You can find this information here.

Members of Texas Values law and policy team are available for comment. Contact Ashley at media@txvalues.org or 737-314-2450 (m) to schedule an interview. 

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About Texas Values

Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.