F ile: JHE - OBSERVANCE OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS A ND CULTURAL H OLIDAYS

Scope

This policy applies to all students and staff of the Framingham Public Schools

Policy Statement

1. Excused absences from school are allowed on major religious and cultural holidays so that students may freely participate in their religious and cultural activities without conflict with their school obligations. Due to differences in religious and cultural practices, observance by individual students will not be uniform. Parents may, in writing, excuse their students from school for any religious or cultural days important to the child's family . religious beliefs. In addition, schools will be closed for Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Good Friday.

2. All students in the Framingham Public Schools are required to make up work covered and assignments given made during an excused absence from school. This practice shall be applicable to students who are absent due to religious or cultural observance. Such work shall be made up at the student's initiative without loss of credit no later than five (5) school days following their return to school after absence. No homework should be due the day following an excused absence for observing a religious or cultural holiday.

3. Students are responsible for submitting turning multi-day projects on time.

4. New classroom work may be introduced on the day of a major religious or cultural holiday , but consideration should be given by the teacher to planning such new work around the holiday.

5. At the student's request, assistance in the introduction of new work for students absent on religious or cultural holidays will be provided afforded by the teacher concerned.

6. No homework should be given the next day if the next day is a major religious holiday as defined by the school calendar.

Definitions

Religious holiday : A religious holiday is a specific day or number of consecutive days identified for specific observance of an individual’s faith. Religious holidays include but are not limited to Eid al Adha, Eid al Ghadeer, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Diwali, Christmas, Passover, Good Friday and Vaisakhi.

Cultural holiday: A cultural holiday is a specific day or number of consecutive days identified to celebrate or commemorate an event or tradition of cultural or religious significance. Cultural holidays include but are not limited to Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year (Asian New Year) and Nowruz (Persian New Year).

Adopted: mm/dd/yyyy