Religion, politics and student participation are all among the reasons some schools have abandoned Halloween celebrations that put candy-filled children in bulky costumes in classrooms.

Oct. 31 parties and costume contests have been eliminated or somehow reformed at multiple districts over the years, but efforts have not gone without pushback, showing the increasing cultural and religious considerations schools face.

“They have a lot they have to balance," said Leandra Parris, who serves on the board of the National Association of School Psychologists. "They're constantly having to balance the rights of all of the students against, also, being fair and open, and it really kind of gets complicated."

The Houston Independent School District (ISD), the largest in Texas, announced for the second year in a row restrictions on Halloween costumes and celebrations, telling schools festivities need to be limited to under an hour and tied to an instructional goal, the Houston Chronicle reported. Middle school and high school........

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