The Department of Public Instruction of Pennsylvania has issued a special bulletin on excusing pupils from public schools to observe religious holidays.
The bulletin, which will be issued each year, lists the dates of all Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern and Greek Orthodox holidays. Jewish holidays listed are the first and second days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first, second and eighth days of Succot, the first, second, seventh and eighth days of Passover and Shevuot.
The bulletin points out that children involved in such holidays may be excused on written request from their parents. Another point made by the publication is that students should not be deprived of an award or the opportunity to compete for an award, or the opportunity to take alternate examinations because of holiday absences.
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