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Please note: If the Governor of Mississippi allows days in addition to the list below in observance of a holiday, providers shall be notified they are also allowed these extra days.

In addition to the eleven (11) holidays, DECCD will also allow up to three (3) days for professional development per year. Providers must document professional development activities for eight (8) hours per closure day with a minimum of 80% staff in attendance. Documentation on professional development shall include:

1. Training agendas (in-house) or list of conference sessions attended.

2. Sign-in/out sheets (in-house) or certificate of completion if attended elsewhere.

3. Dated notice of closure due to Professional Development provided to parents, which must be submitted to DECCD and MSDH Bureau of Child Care Licensure.

4. Proof of staff payment for any hours spent in professional development training.

Documentation for dates closed for Professional Development must be submitted to DECCD and MSDH Child Care Licensing within five (5) days of the event and will be monitored annually. Any provider claiming closure for professional development not providing documentation of claimed professional development will be in violation of policy. Parents must be notified by the child care center fourteen (14) days prior to closure for professional development.

Fixed and Optional Holidays DATE HOLIDAY January 1 New Year’s Day – fixed holiday January – 3rd Monday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and Robert E. Lee’s Birthday – optional holiday Spring (date varies annually) Good Friday – optional holiday May – Last Monday Memorial Day – optional holiday July 4 (*) Independence Day – fixed holiday September – 1st Monday Labor Day – optional holiday November – 4th Thursday and Friday (*) Thanksgiving Day & the Friday After Thanksgiving Day – fixed holiday December 24 (*) Christmas Eve – fixed holiday December 25 (*) Christmas Day – fixed holiday December 31 New Year’s Eve – optional holiday