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), 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 2023 - 2024 school year:
Date | Observance |
---|---|
June 26-July1 | Hajj Day (Islam)* |
July 2 | Foundation Stone of Shri Akal Takht Sahib Ji (Sikh) |
July 3 | Guru Purnima |
July 9 | Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) |
July 18 | 1st Muharram (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
July 18-27 | Ashara Mubaraka (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
July 19 | 1st Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
July 27 |
|
July 28 | Ashura (Islam) |
June 29 | Eid al-Adha (Islam)* |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
August 1 |
|
August 6 | Transfiguration of the Lord (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
August 14-16 | Obon (Buddhist) |
August 15 |
|
August 20-31 | Onam (Hindu)* |
August 21 | Naga Panchami (Hindu)* |
August 30 |
|
Date | Observance |
---|---|
September 1 |
|
September 5 | Chehlum Imam Hussain (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
September 7 |
|
September 8 | Nativity of Mary (Christian) |
September 12-19 | Paryushana (Jain)* |
September 16-17 |
|
September 19 | Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)* |
September 21 | Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
September 22 | Jyoti Jot Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh) |
September 21-29 | Mabon (Wicca/Pagan) |
September 25 |
|
September 26 | Milad an-Nabi (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
September 27 | Maulid al-Nabi (Islam)* The Elevation of the Holy Cross (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
September 29 – October 6 |
|
September 30 | Urus-Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
October 7 | Last Great Day (Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God) |
October 7-8 | Sh’mini Atzeret (Jewish) |
October 8 | Simchat Torah (Jewish) |
October 15-24 | Navaratri (Hindu)* |
October 18 | Milad Imam-uz-Zamaan (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
October 20 | Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh) Birth of B’ab (Bah’i) |
October 31 | Samhain (Wicca) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
November 1 | All Saints’ Day (Christian) |
November 2 | All Souls’ Day (Christian) |
November 3 | Milad Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
November 12 |
|
November 13 | Goverdhan Puja (Hindu)* |
November 15 | Nativity Fast begins (Eastern Orthodox Christian) Ascension of ‘Abdul’l Baha (Baha’i) |
November 21 | The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
November 24 | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) |
November 26 | Day of Covenant (Baha’i)` |
November 27 | Guru Nanak Dev Ji Birthday (Sikh) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
December 3 | First Sunday of Advent (Christian) |
December 8 | Immaculate Conception (Christian) Bodhi Day (Buddhist) |
December 8-15 | Hanukkah (Jewish) |
December 21 |
|
December 25 |
|
December 26 |
|
Date | 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 15 | Makar Sankranti and Pongal (Hindu)* |
January 24 | World Religion Day (Baha’i) |
January 25 |
|
January 29 | Urus – Syedna Taher Saifuddin (Islam Dawoodi Bohra) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
February 2 |
|
February 6 | Yawm al-Mab’ath (Islam Dawoodi Bohra) |
February 7 | Lailat al Miraj (Islam)* |
February 10 | Chinese/Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) |
February 12-21 | Midwinter Ceremonies (Native American)* |
February 13 | Shrove Tuesday (Christian) |
February 14 |
|
February 15 | Nirvana Day (Buddhist) |
February 14 | Ash Wednesday (Christian) |
February 25 | Lailat al Bara’ah (Islam)* |
February 26 – March 1 | Intercalary Days (Baha'i) |
February 29 | Jonah’s Passover (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
March 8 | Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)* |
March 10 – April 9 | Ramadan (Islam) |
March 13 | L. Ron Hubbard’s Birthday (Church of Scientology) |
March 14 | Meena Sankranthi (Hindu)* |
March 18 |
|
March 21 |
|
March 24 |
|
March 25 |
|
March 25-27 | Hola Mohalla (Sikh)* |
March 26 | Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian) |
March 28 |
|
March 29 | Holy Friday (Christian) |
March 31 | Easter (Christian) |
March 31-April 1 | Laylatul Qadr (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
April 1 |
|
April 5 | Aakhir Jumo’a (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
April 6 | Laylatul Qadr (Islam)* |
April 9 |
|
April 10 | Eid al Fitr (Islam)* |
April 13-20 | Memorial Feast of the Lords Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread (Church of God and Saints of Christ) |
April 14 | Vaisakhi (Sikh) |
April 17 | Ramnavami (Hindu)* |
April 18 | Prakash Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikh) |
April 21 |
|
April 22-30 |
|
April 23 |
|
April 23-19 | Days of Unleavened Bread (Philadelphia Church of God) |
April 13-20 | Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread (Church of God and Saints of Christ) |
April 24-26 | Theravadin New Year (Buddhist) |
April 25 | The 11th Panchen Lama’s Birthday (Buddhist) |
April 27 | Lazarus Saturday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
April 28 |
|
April 29 | Last Day of Unleavened Bread (Church of God) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
May 1 |
|
May 2 | Holy Thursday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
May 3 |
|
May 5 | Easter (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
May 6 | Bright Monday (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
May 9 | Ascension of Our Lord (Christian) |
May 13 | Yom Ha’Azmaut (Jewish) |
May 15 | Buddha’s Birthday/Buddha Day* |
May 19 | Pentecost (Christian) |
May 22 | Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i) |
May 23 | Visakha Puja (Buddhist) |
May 26 | Lag B’Omer (Jewish) |
May 29 | Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
June 12-13 | Shavuot (Jewish) |
June 13 | Feast of Ascension (Eastern Orthodox Christian) |
June 15 | Yawm al-Arafa (Islam Dawoodi Bohra)* |
June 16 |
|
June 24 |
|
Angelica Allen-McMillan, Ed.D., Acting Commissioner Kathy Goldenberg, President Acting Secretary, N.J. State Board of Education N.J. State Board of Education
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:
Date | 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 |
|
Date | 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) |
Date | 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) |
Date | 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 |
|
Date | 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)* |
Date | 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) |
Date | 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 |
|
Date | 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) |
Date | Observance |
---|---|
May 1 |
|
May 3 | Yom Ha’Azmaut (Jewish) |
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) |
Kevin Dehmer, Acting Commissioner
Acting Secretary, N.J. State Board of Education
Kathy Goldenberg, President
N.J. State Board of Education