§ 2707 — Religious holidays

(a) A pupil’s absence from school for the observance of a religious holiday is a necessary and excused absence.

(b) A list of religious holidays on which a pupil’s absence shall be excused shall be created by the Secretary of Education and placed in regulation. The list of approved religious holidays is not a limit on the power of school districts or charter schools to excuse absence on any other day for the purpose of religious or cultural observance.

(c) A signed, written excuse from the pupil’s parent or guardian is required in order to excuse an absence under this section.

(d) A pupil of any public school, who is absent by reason of observance of a religious holiday, may not be deprived of any award or eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award.

(e) School districts and charter schools must have a policy discouraging teachers from scheduling major grading events, such as tests, examinations, presentations, or project due dates on religious holidays. A pupil who misses a grading event due to excused absence for observance of a religious holiday must be allowed the opportunity to take an alternate test or given some other means to recover credit.

Legislative History

83 Del. Laws, c. 78, § 2