Official Site of The State of New Jersey
List of Religious Holidays Permitting Pupil Absence From School
WHEREAS, according to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 through 16 and N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.4(e)1i, regarding student absence from school because of religious holidays, the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, is charged with the responsibility of prescribing such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of the law; and
WHEREAS, the law provides that:
- Any student absent from school because of a religious holiday may not be deprived of any award or of eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award because of such absence;
- Students who miss a test or examination because of absence on a religious holiday must be given the right to take an alternate test or examination;
- To be entitled to the privileges set forth above, the student must present a written excuse signed by a parent or person standing in place of a parent;
- Any absence because of a religious holiday must be recorded in the school register or in any group or class attendance record as an excused absence;
- Such absence must not be recorded on any transcript or application or employment form or on any similar form; and
- The Commissioner, with the approval of the State Board of Education, is required to:
- prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act; and
- prepare a list of religious holidays on which it shall be mandatory to excuse a The list, however, is to be a minimum list. Boards of education, at their discretion, may add other days to the list for the schools of their districts; and
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education makes every attempt to ensure the accuracy of the dates using the lunar, Gregorian and Julian calendars; and
WHEREAS, the district board of education has the right to add any bona fide religious holiday to the list for its own schools;
WHEREAS, dates within this resolution may not be fixed before the State Board adopts the annual calendar and may require additional revision; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education permits the Commissioner of Education, after annual adoption by the State Board of Education, to revise the dates provided in list of religious holidays; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education adopts the following list of religious holidays for the 2024 - 2025 school year:
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| July 2 | Foundation Stone of Shri Akal Takht Sahib Ji (Sikh) |
| July 7 | 1st Muharram (Islamic New Year, Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| July 7–16 | Ashara Mubaraka (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| July 9 | Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) |
| July 16 | Yawm Aashura (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| July 17 | Ashura (Islam) |
| July 21 |
|
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| August 1 |
|
| August 6 | Transfiguration of the Lord (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| August 9 | Naga Panchami (Hindu)* |
| August 13 | Tish’a B’Av (Jewish) |
| August 14–16 | Obon (Buddhist) |
| August 15 |
|
| August 18 | Ullambana (Buddhist) |
| August 19 | Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)* |
| August 25 | Chehlum Imam Hussain (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| August 26 | Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)* |
| August 31–September 7 | Paryushan (Jain)* |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| September 1 |
|
| September 5–17 | Onam (Hindu)* |
| September 6 | Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)* |
| September 7 | His Holiness Sakya Trizin’s Birthday (Buddhist) |
| September 8 | Nativity of Mary (Christian) |
| September 15 | Maulid al-Nabi (Islam, Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| September 19 | Urus-Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| September 21 | Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| September 23 | Mabon (Wicca/Pagan) |
| September 27 |
|
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| October 3 | Feast of Trumpets (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God) |
| October 3–4 | Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) |
| October 3–12 | Navaratri (Hindu)* |
| October 7 | Milad Imam-uz-Zamaan (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| October 12 |
|
| October 17–23 |
|
| October 20 | Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh) Birth of B’ab (Bah’i) |
| October 23 | Milad Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| October 24 | Last Great Day (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God) |
| October 24–25 | Sh’mini Atzeret (Jewish) |
| October 25 | Simchat Torah (Jewish) |
| October 31 | Samhain (Wicca) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| November 1 |
|
| November 2 |
|
| November 3 | Birth of Baha’u’llah (Bah’i) |
| November 15 | Nativity Fast begins (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| November 21 | The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| November 24 | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) |
| November 25 | Day of Covenant (Baha’i)` |
| November 27 | Guru Nanak Dev Ji Birthday (Sikh) |
| November 28 | Ascension of ‘Abdul’l Baha (Baha’i) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| December 1 | First Sunday of Advent (Christian) |
| December 8 | Bodhi Day (Buddhist) |
| December 9 | Immaculate Conception (Christian) |
| December 21 |
|
| December 25 | Christmas (Christian) |
| December 25–January 2 | Hanukkah (Jewish) |
| December 26 |
|
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| January 1 |
|
| January 3–10 | Holy Convocation (Church of God and Saints of Christ) |
| January 5 | Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (Sikh) |
| January 6 |
|
| January 7 | Feast of the Nativity (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| January 13 |
|
| January 14 |
|
| January 18 | Urus – Syedna Taher Saifuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra) |
| January 19 | World Religion Day (Baha’i) |
| January 26 | Yawm al-Mab’ath (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| January 27 | Lailat al Miraj (Islam)* |
| January 29 | Chinese/Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) |
| January 31–February 9 | Midwinter Ceremonies (Native American)* |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| February 1 | Imbolic-Candlemas (Wicca and Christian) |
| February 2 |
|
| February 10–12 | Jonah’s Passover (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
| February 13 | Tu B’shvat (Jewish) |
| February 14 | Lailat al Bara’ah (Islam)* |
| February 15 | Nirvana Day (Buddhist) |
| February 26 | Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)* |
| February 26 – March 1 | Intercalary Days (Baha'i) |
| February 28–March 30 | Ramadan (Islam) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| March 3 | Clean Monday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| March 4 | Shrove Tuesday (Christian) |
| March 5 | Ash Wednesday (Christian) |
| March 10 | Govinda Dwadashi (Hindu)* |
| March 13 |
|
| March 14 |
|
| March 15–16 |
|
| March 18 | Shahadat – Amirul Mumineen (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 20 |
|
| March 21–22 | Laylatul Qadr (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 22 | Milad Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 25 |
|
| March 26 |
|
| March 28 | Aakhir Jumo’a (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 30 |
|
| March 31 | Eid al-Fitr (Islam)* |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| April 6 | Ramnavami (Hindu)* |
| April 10 | Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)* |
| April 12 |
|
| April 12–20 |
|
| April 13 |
|
| April 13–19 | Days of Unleavened Bread (Philadelphia Church of God) |
| April 17 |
|
| April 18 |
|
| April 19 | Last Day of Unleavened Bread (Church of God) |
| April 20 | Easter (Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 21 |
|
| April 23–29 | Memorial Feast of the Lords Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread (Church of God and Saints of Christ) |
| April 25 | The 11th Panchen Lama’s Birthday (Buddhist) |
| April 29 | Ninth Day of Ridvan (Baha’i) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| May 1 |
|
| May 5 | Buddha’s Birthday/Buddha Day* |
| May 12 | Visakha Puja (Buddhist) |
| May 16 | Lag B’Omer (Jewish) |
| May 23 | Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i) |
| May 28 | Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i) |
| May 29 |
|
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| June 1–3 | Shavuot (Jewish) |
| June 4–9 | Hajj Day (Islam)* |
| June 5 | Yawm al-Arafa (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| June 6 | Eid al-Adha (Islam, Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| June 8 |
|
| June 14 | Eid-e-Ghadeer (Muslim, Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| June 16 |
|
| June 20 | Litha (Wicca) |
WHEREAS, according to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 through 16 and N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.4(e)1i, regarding student absence from school because of religious holidays, the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, is charged with the responsibility of prescribing such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of the law; and
WHEREAS, the law provides that:
- Any student absent from school because of a religious holiday may not be deprived of any award or of eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award because of such absence;
- Students who miss a test or examination because of absence on a religious holiday must be given the right to take an alternate test or examination;
- To be entitled to the privileges set forth above, the student must present a written excuse signed by a parent or person standing in place of a parent;
- Any absence because of a religious holiday must be recorded in the school register or in any group or class attendance record as an excused absence;
- Such absence must not be recorded on any transcript or application or employment form or on any similar form; and
- The Commissioner, with the approval of the State Board of Education, is required to:
- prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act; and
- prepare a list of religious holidays on which it shall be mandatory to excuse a The list, however, is to be a minimum list. Boards of education, at their discretion, may add other days to the list for the schools of their districts; and
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education makes every attempt to ensure the accuracy of the dates using the lunar, Gregorian and Julian calendars; and
WHEREAS, the district board of education has the right to add any bona fide religious holiday to the list for its own schools;
WHEREAS, dates within this resolution may not be fixed before the State Board adopts the annual calendar and may require additional revision; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education permits the Commissioner of Education, after annual adoption by the State Board of Education, to revise the dates provided in list of religious holidays; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education adopts the following list of religious holidays for the 2025 - 2026 school year:
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| July 26- July 5 | Ashara Mubaraka (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| July 2 | Foundation Stone of Shri Akal Takht Sahib Ji (Sikh) |
| July 5 | Yawm Aashura (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| July 5-6 | Ashura (Islam) |
| July 9 | Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) |
| July 10 |
|
| July 29 | Naga Panchami (Hindu)* |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| August 1 |
|
| August 3 | Tish’a B’Av (Jewish) |
| August 6 | Transfiguration of the Lord (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| August 9 | Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)* |
| August 13–16 | Obon (Buddhist) |
| August 14 | Chehlum Imam Hussain (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| August 15 |
|
| August 16 | Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)* |
| August 20-27 | Paryushan (Jain)* |
| August 26-27 | Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)* |
| August 26- September 5 | Onam (Hindu)* |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| September 1 |
|
| September 5 | Milad al-Nabi (Islam, Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| September 6 | Ullambana (Buddhist) |
| September 7 | His Holiness Sakya Trizin’s Birthday (Buddhist) |
| September 8 |
|
| September 21 | Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| September 22 |
|
| September 22-October 2 | Navaratri (Hindu)* |
| September 23 | Feast of Trumpets (Christian, Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God) |
| September 23-24 | Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) |
| September 26 | Milad Imam-uz-Zamaan (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| September 27 | The Elevation of the Holy Cross (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| October 2 |
|
| October 7-13 |
|
| October 12 | Milad Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| October 14 | Last Great Day (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God) |
| October 14-15 | Sh’mini Atzeret (Jewish) |
| October 15 | Simchat Torah (Jewish) |
| October 18-22 | Diwali (Hindu, Jain, Puja and Deepavali)* |
| October 20 | Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh) |
| October 21 | Bandi Chhor Diwas (Sikh) |
| October 22 |
|
| October 23 | Birth of Baha’u’llah (Bah’i) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| November 1 |
|
| November 2 | All Souls’ Day (Christian) |
| November 5 | Guru Nanak Dev Ji Birthday (Sikh) |
| November 15 | Nativity Fast begins (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| November 21 | The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| November 24 |
|
| November 28 | Ascension of ‘Abdul’l Baha (Baha’i) |
| November 30 | First Sunday of Advent (Christian) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| December 8 |
|
| December 14-22 | Hanukkah (Jewish) |
| December 21 |
|
| December 25 | Christmas (Christian) |
| December 21 |
|
| December 26 |
|
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| January 1 |
|
| January 3 | Ayyam al Beez (Islam Dawoodi Borha)* |
| January 3-10 | Holy Convocation (Church of God and Saints of Christ) |
| January 6 |
|
| January 7 |
|
| January 13 |
|
| January 14 | Makar Sankranti and Pongal (Hindu)* |
| January 15 | Yawm al-Mab’ath (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| January 16 | Lailat al Miraj (Islam)* |
| January 18 | World Religion Day (Baha’i) |
| January 19 | Feast of Theophany (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| January 23 | Vasant Panchami (Hindu)* |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| February 1 | Imbolic-Candlemas (Wicca and Christian) |
| February 2 | Tu B’shvat (Jewish) |
| February 3 | Lailat al Bara’ah (Islam)* |
| February 5 | Jonah’s Passover (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
| February 15 |
|
| February 16 | Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)* |
| February 17 |
|
| February 18 | Ash Wednesday (Christian) |
| February 18- March 18 | Ramadan (Islam) |
| February 19-28 | Midwinter Ceremonies (Native American)* |
| February 23 | Clean Monday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| February 25- March 1 | Intercalary Days (Baha'i) |
| February 28 | Govinda Dwadashi (Hindu)* |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| March 3 |
|
| March 4 | Holi (Hindu)* |
| March 4-6 | Hola Mohalla (Sikh)* |
| March 7 | Shahadat – Amirul Mumineen (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 10-11 | Laylatul Qadr (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 11 | Milad Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 13 | Aakhir Jumo’a (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 15 |
|
| March 19 | Eid al-Fitr (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| March 19-27 | Navaratri (Hindu)* |
| March 20 |
|
| March 20-22 | Eid ul-Fitr (Islam) |
| March 25 | The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Christian) |
| March 26 |
|
| March 27 | The Last Friday of the Great Lent (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
| March 29 | Palm Sunday |
| March 31 | Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)* |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| April 1 |
|
| April 1-9 |
|
| April 1-8 | Memorial Feast of the Lords Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread (Church of God and Saints of Christ) |
| April 2 |
|
| April 2-8 | Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread (Church of God and Saints of Christ, Philadelphia Church of God) |
| April 3 | Holy Friday (Christian) |
| April 4 | Lazarus Saturday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 5 |
|
| April 6 | Easter Monday (Christian) |
| April 7 | The Annunciation of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 8 | Last Day of Unleavened Bread (Church of God) |
| April 9 | Holy Thursday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 10 | Holy Friday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 12 | Easter (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 13 | Bright Monday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| April 14 | Vaisakhi (Sikh) |
| April 20 | First Day of Ridvan (Baha’i) |
| April 22 | Yom Ha’Azmaut (Jewish) |
| April 25 | The 11th Panchen Lama’s Birthday (Buddhist) |
| April 29 | Ninth Day of Ridvan (Baha’i) |
| Observance | |
|---|---|
| May 1 |
|
| May 2 | Twelfth Day of Ridvan (Baha’i) |
| May 5 | Lag B’Omer (Jewish) |
| May 14 | Ascension of Our Lord (Christian) |
| May 21 | Feast of Ascension (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| May 22-23 | Shavuot (Jewish) |
| May 24 |
|
| May | Hajj Day (Islam)* |
| May | Yawm al-Arafa (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| May | Eid al-Adha (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| May | Eid ul-Adha (Islam)* |
| May | Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i) |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| June 3 | Eid-e-Ghadeer (Muslim, Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
| June 8 | Fast of the Holy Apostles (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
| June 15 | Foundation Stone of Shri Akal Takht Sahib Ji (Sikh) |
| June 16 | 1st Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
| June 18 | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib (Sikh) |
| June 21 | Litha (Wicca) |
* Disclaimer: New Jersey Department of Education has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of the dates. The information has been verified through the use of various sources and some dates may vary due to the lunar, Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Kevin Dehmer, Commissioner
Acting Secretary, N.J. State Board of Education
Kathy Goldenberg, President
N.J. State Board of Education