First, Hanukkah is not a major Jewish holiday and should not be equated with Christmas, one of the two most important holidays in the Christian year. Second, one violation of the First Amendment does not justify another. If it is wrong to promote religion in the public schools at Christmas, it is wrong every other day of the year. Schools are not required to close on a particular religious holiday but may choose to do so as a matter of administrative convenience as, for example, when large numbers of students are likely to be absent. When schools choose not to close on particular holidays, conflicts may arise.
Most states have laws permitting a certain number of excused absences for religious holidays.
Where no statutory exemption exists, the First Amendment's Free Exercise clause or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would seem to require a reasonable number of excused absences for such religious observance. In no event, should a student be penalized for being absent from school to observe religious holidays. A slightly different rule applies to teachers who wish to be absent to observe religious holidays. School boards may offer any accommodation that is reasonable, however, and are not required to accept the accommodation proposed by the employee.