2026-27 Guidance Regarding Religion and Religious Accommodations

Background

During the 2019-20 school year, Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Education Association created a joint workgroup to address equity and evaluate inclusive considerations related to religious and cultural observances and practices in developing student and work calendars. The workgroup sought to develop the calendar using the negotiated calendar formula (important dates) below, while also considering days which may have high impact on our communities. The goal of this calendar is to provide an at-a-glance look at the variety of religious holidays and observances to assist schools/teachers in planning important events, testing, and exam dates.

While we can’t change school year dates to accommodate every religious/cultural observance, it is understood that students may end up missing school and important school events in order to honor their religious practices. Since our school district is so large, our communities vary in their diversity. As a result, the district recognizes individual schools know their community and are asking schools to consider the days of religious/cultural observances that would occur within their school community and the accommodations and supports that can be provided to students if schools are unable to avoid scheduling educationally significant days on religious/cultural dates. Further, Washington state law and the district’s Superintendent Procedure 3121SP provides students an excused absence for the observance of a religious or cultural holiday.

This guidance being provided is based on guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Important Dates

The dates below were negotiated as a part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

• First Day of School
  • The first Wednesday in September
• State In-Service Day
  • As recognized by the State (typically the second Friday in October)
• Winter Break
  • At least ten weekdays, ending after New Year’s Day. If New Year’s Day falls or is observed on a Monday, students will return to school on the next day (Tuesday)
• Mid-Winter Break
  • President’s Day and the following four workdays
• Spring Break
  • Five days starting the second Monday in April
• Holidays
  • Labor Day (when school begins before this day in September)
  • Veteran’s Day (November)
  • Thanksgiving Day (November)
  • The day after Thanksgiving (November)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January)
  • President’s Day (February)
  • Memorial Day (May)
  • Juneteenth (when the school year extends beyond this day in June)
• Contractual Days
  • The four workdays preceding the start of school, except for the Friday before Labor Day
• Conferences
  • Three consecutive days for conferences immediately preceding Thanksgiving Day

Student Absences

SPS Attendance policy and procedure in their entirety:

• SPS Policy 3121 – Attendance
• Superintendent Procedure 3121SP – Attendance

Though consistent attendance for students is essential, Policy 3121/3121SP does provide that religious or cultural purposes are valid excuses for an absence.

It is the policy of the Seattle School Board that consistent attendance is essential to the Seattle Public Schools mission of academic excellence for every student in every school. Students who miss critical instruction in key concepts quickly fall behind in school and are less likely to achieve academic success. Accordingly, school attendance is mandatory, and unexcused absences and truancy are prohibited within Seattle Public Schools. All Seattle Public Schools are dedicated to providing racially, culturally, and age-appropriate instruction as well as supports and interventions to remove barriers to consistent daily attendance.

Superintendent Procedure 3121SP VIII.B.1.c. and l. state:

B. Excused Absences

1. Absences pursuant to RCW 28A.225.010 or WAC 392-401-020 must be excused:

3. Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction.

12. A reason of faith or conscience, or for an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization, for up to two days per school year.

However it does also provide that:

• The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence.
• If an absence is excused, the student will be permitted to make up all missed assignments outside of class under reasonable conditions and time limits established by the teacher of the class. However, in participation-type classes, a student’s grade may be affected because of the student’s inability to make up the activities conducted during a class period if an alternative assignment that aligns with the learning goals of the activities missed is not reasonable.
• An excused absence will be verified by a parent/guardian or an adult, emancipated or appropriately aged student, or school authority responsible for the absence. If attendance is taken electronically, either for a course conducted online or for students physically within the district, an absence will default to unexcused until such time as an excused absence may be verified by a parent/guardian or an adult, emancipated, or appropriately aged student. If a student of any age is to be released for health care related to family planning or abortion, the student may require that the District keep the information confidential. Students thirteen and older have the right to keep information about drug, alcohol or mental health treatment confidential. Students fourteen and older have the same confidentiality rights regarding HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

Religious Accommodations for Students

SPS Religion and Religious Accommodation policy and procedure in their entirety:

• SPS Policy 2340 – Religious-Related Activities and Practices
• Superintendent Procedure 2340SP – Religion and Religious Accommodation

In order for students to be granted a religious accommodation, the student’s parent/guardian must submit a written request to the principal of the student’s school. Such requests should be submitted well enough in advance to allow the school to make appropriate arrangements and scheduling adjustments. If the request is for an excused absence for a religious event, that request must be made at least three days in advance of the start of the planned absence in accordance with the district’s Attendance Procedure. The written request must state:

1. The specific accommodation requested;
2. Why the accommodation is needed; and
3. The amount of time, duration, and frequency of the accommodation.

Assessment Calendar

Assessment calendar – all dates are tentative until confirmed by testing agencies.

School staff should consider these testing windows and their building activities to make proper considerations for their school communities religious and cultural observances.

2026-27 State Assessment Windows

• TSG (PK): Checkpoints: Mid-November 2026, Late February 2027, Mid-June 2027
• WaKIDS (K): Data entered in TS Gold by Nov. 15, 2026
• WIDA Annual (K-12): Jan. 25-March 19, 2027
• WA-AIM (3-8 & 10, 11): Jan. 25-April 30, 2027
• SBA ELA & Math (3-8 & 10): May 10-28, 2027
• WCAS Science (5, 8, 11): April 5-30, 2027

SAT/PSAT: Throughout October 2026
AP Testing: First two weeks in May 2027

2026-27 Calendar of Common Religious and Public Holidays

Religion and Religious Accommodations for 2026-27: This aims to expand the awareness about the multiple forms of diversity among our students and families, and the days that students may or not be at school due to religious observances and the days that students may be fasting. It may also be helpful to guide better times to schedule educationally significant activities when the date can’t be changed. For example, testing in the morning during periods when students eat at sundown.

The purpose of the calendar below is to assist in this effort to raise awareness about religious holidays observed in public schools across Washington State.

This calendar was provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: 2026-27 Common Religious and Public Holidays

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction encourages districts not to schedule significant school events on major religious holidays. Schools that plan around major religious holidays convey to all students that they are a meaningful part of their school communities and their religious traditions matter.

Is there anything we should consider when updating the Guidance for Religion and Religious Accommodations document in the future? Please send feedback to laborrelations@seattleschools.org.

Translations in Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese are available upon request. Please contact Labor and Employee Relations at laborrelations@seattleschools.org.

Amharic

የአማርኛ፣የቻይንኛ፣የሶማልኛ፣የስፓንሽኛ እና የቪየትናምኛ ትርጉሞች በተጠየቁ ጊዜ ይሰጣሉ።እባክዎ የሠራተኛ ግንኙነት ክፍልን በ laborrelations@seattleschools.orgያነጋግሩ።

Simplified Chinese

当你提出要求时，我们可以提供阿姆哈拉语(Amharic)、中文、索马里语、西班牙语和越南语的翻译。请联系劳动关系部门，电邮 laborrelations@seattleschools.org。

Somali

Turjumaadaha Afafka, Amxaari, Shiine, Soomaali, Isbaanish, iyo Fiitnaami ayaa diyaar ah haddii la codsado. Fadlan la xiriir Xiriirka Shaqaalaha laborrelations@seattleschools.org.

Spanish

Traducciones disponibles en amárico, chino, somalí, español y vietnamita, previa solicitud. Por favor, comuníquese con el Departamento de Relaciones Laborales a través de laborrelations@seattleschools.org.

Vietnamese

Bản dịch qua các tiếng Amharic, tiếng Trung, tiếng Somali, tiếng Tây Ban Nha và Tiếng Việt có sẵn theo yêu cầu. Vui lòng liên hệ với Bộ phận Labor Relations tại laborrelations@seattleschools.org.