Eid Holiday in Public Schools

All Muslim students attending any New Jersey public school can receive an excused absence using a note from a religious leader or masjid to observe Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and other religious observances. Unfortunately, some students and families have faced challenges making the excused absence process difficult. Muslim students deserve to observe their sacred holidays without push back. School districts that have a significant number of Muslims should close for the top Muslim holidays. This is the manifestation of equity.

CAIR New Jersey’s Eid holiday map shows the current status of Eid al-Fitr in New Jersey public schools by school district/municipality. They are listed by county for your convenience.  The map will be continually updated. Eid al-Adha fell during summer break for some years in the recent past.  If a school district is missing from the map, please email us at info@nj.cair.com

2026–2027 Eid Detailed Analysis & Trends

• Eid Al-Fitr recognition remains widespread, with most tracked districts continuing to provide closures or accommodations. Four new districts—Edgewater, Middlesex Borough, Passaic, and Bernards Township—are giving off for Eid Al-Fitr.
• Backsliding persists, as several districts that closed for Eid Al-Fitr in 2025–2026 no longer do so in 2026–2027. Additionally, 17 districts are closing on March 9 rather than March 10, reflecting uncertainty and variation in the sources used to determine Eid dates.
• Alternative calendar strategies remain common, including professional-development days, staff in-service days, early dismissals, and single-session days.
• Eid Al-Adha recognition remains limited, with closures concentrated in a small number of districts, particularly in Bergen and Middlesex counties. Its expected weekend timing in 2027 may partly explain the disparity, as many districts may not need to close.
• Recognition of the two Eids remains inconsistent: some districts recognize Eid Al-Fitr but not Eid Al-Adha, while Fairview demonstrates the opposite pattern in 2026–2027.
• Continued advocacy is essential to preserve existing Eid closures, address reversals, promote recognition of both Eids, and encourage greater consistency in the sources used to establish holiday dates. 

Takeaways for Future Advocacy

→ Maintain consistent district-level advocacy to preserve Eid closures, even where recognition has already been established.

→ As Eid Al-Fitr recognition becomes more widespread, expand advocacy efforts to prioritize Eid Al-Adha, while accounting for the holiday’s weekend timing in 2027.

→ Encourage districts to use consistent, centralized sources when determining Eid dates.

Note: Some districts add Eid closures after publishing their official calendars, such as when an unused snow day becomes available. Our data may therefore not capture subsequent closure decisions.