A 2042 — Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on accommodations for certain students fasting for religious or medical reasons.*

A2042 ACS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR ASSEMBLY, No.

2042 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE   PRE-FILEDADOPTED FORJUNE INTRODUCTION15, IN THE 2026 SESSION     Sponsored by:

AssemblywomanAssemblywoman  SHAMA A.

Assemblywomen Carter, Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen Sampson, Karabinchak, Spearman, Kennedy, Assemblywomen MoralesMorales, Brennan and BrennanAssemblyman Stanley         SYNOPSIS      PermitsRequires publicCommissioner highof schoolEducation students to optdevelop outguidance ofon physicalaccommodations educationfor andcertain sportsstudents programsfasting duringfor Ramadan.religious or medical reasons.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedSubstitute Pendingas Technicaladopted Review by Legislativethe Counsel.Assembly Education Committee.

       An Act concerning physicalreligious education and student-athletesmedical andaccommodations supplementingfor chapterspublic 35school students and 40supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

       1.    a. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.18A:35-7 or any other law to the contrary, a public high school student who observes the religious month of Ramadan may elect to substitute for the required physical education course an instructional course or study hall for the duration of the marking period in which Ramadan occurs.  The student shall submit written notice to the principal of the school prior to the school district creating schedules for the marking period.  The student shall receive the number of high school graduation credits for the instructional course or study hall equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course.

    The b.   Commissioner Nothingof Education, in thisconsultation actwith the Commissioner of Health, shall bedevelop deemedand distribute guidance to precludepublic theschools provisionsconcerning ofaccommodations N.J.S.18A:35-8.for students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons.

       2.   b.    AThe student-athleteguidance whorequired observes the religious month of Ramadan may be excused from participation in an interscholastic sports program, intramural sports program, or cheerleading program organized by the school pursuant to sectionsubsection 1a. of P.L.1979, c.172 (C.18A:11-3) for the duration of Ramadan.  The student-athlete shall submit a written notice to the coach of the interscholastic sports program, intramural sports program, or cheerleading program.  A coach shall not penalize a student-athlete that elects to be excused from participation for the duration of Ramadan.

 of     this 3.   section This act shall takeinclude, effectbut immediatelynot andbe shalllimited firstto, applyrecommendations toconcerning: the first full academic year following the date of enactment.      STATEMENT        This bill permits any public high school student who observes Ramadan to opt out of physical education class.  Under the bill, a student can substitute the required physical education course with an instructional course or study hall for the duration of the marking period in which Ramadan falls.  The bill requires the student to submit a written notice to the principal of the school prior to the school district creating schedules for the marking period.  The instructional course or study hall is required to provide the student with graduation credits equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course.

     This(1)   billflexibility doesfor notphysical exempteducation studentsclasses, fromathletic theparticipation, statutoryexaminations, requirement that they attend at least two and one-halfother hours per school weekactivities; of health and safety education courses, when these courses are scheduled.       Additionally, this bill permits a student-athlete to be excused from participation in an interscholastic sports program, intramural sports program, or cheerleading program during Ramadan.  In order to be excused, a student-athlete is required to submit a written notice to the coach of the athletic program.  The bill stipulates that a coach cannot penalize a student-athlete for not participating during Ramadan.

     During(2)   thedifferentiated holyinstruction month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from food and drinkalternative fromeducational dawnactivities tofor dusk. students Aswhose one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting duringmay theaffect monthparticipation ofin Ramadancertain isphysical mandatoryactivities; for all healthy adult Muslims.

 Children     are(3)   notstrategies expected to fastsupport untilstudents theywho reachare puberty,fasting usuallyfor aroundreligious theor agemedical ofreasons 14. without Itadversely isaffecting the intentstudents’ ofacademic thisstanding billor toaccess acknowledge Muslim students who observe Ramadan by providing less intense alternatives to physicalinstruction activityaligned whilewith thesethe studentsNew practiceJersey theirStudent religiousLearning beliefsStandards; by fasting.

     (4)   communication with parents or guardians regarding requests for accommodations related to fasting;

and      (5)   professional development resources and best practices for teachers, coaches, school nurses, counselors, and administrators concerning students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons.

     c.

 Nothing in this section shall be construed as providing a public school the authority to:

     (1)  alter State graduation requirements for students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons, unless such alterations are otherwise provided in a student’s individualized education program or pursuant to any other State or federal law;

     (2)  preclude a student who is fasting for religious or medical reasons from meeting local graduation requirements as a result of any accommodations provided to the student pursuant to this section;

or      (3)  require a student who is fasting for religious or medical reasons to complete additional schoolwork or instructional time as a result of any accommodations provided to the student pursuant to this section in order to meet local graduation requirements.

     d.  In developing the guidance pursuant to this section, the commissioners shall consult with interested stakeholders in the education community, including, but not limited to, educators, school health professionals, religious and community organizations, and organizations representing students with medical conditions that may require fasting.

     e.     The Department of Education shall make the guidance developed pursuant to subsection a.

of this section publicly available on its Internet website within one year following the effective date of this act.

       2.

This act shall take effect immediately.