S 1340 — Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on accommodations for certain students fasting for religious or medical reasons.*

S1340 1R SCS [First Reprint]   SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE, No.

Senators McKnight, Beach, Johnson and Ruiz         SYNOPSIS      Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on accommodations for certain students fasting for religious or medical reasons.    CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      SubstituteAs asreported adopted by the SenateAssembly Education Committee.Committee on June 15, 2026, with amendments.

            1.   1.   a.

          b.   b.   The guidance required pursuant to subsection a.

          (1)  (1)  scheduling1[scheduling considerations andand]1 flexibility for physical education classes, athletic participation, examinations, and other school activities;

          (2)  (2)  differentiated instruction and alternative educational activities for students whose fasting may affect participation in certain instructional1[instructional oror]1 physical activities;

          (3)  (3)  model1[model policies concerning matters related to student fasting, including attendance, health, hydration, nutrition, and student wellness;

          (4)  (4)  methods by which school districts may address graduation credit requirements and course participation requirements while ensuring students continue to receivereceive] strategies to support students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons without adversely affecting the students’ academic standing or access to1 instruction aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards;

          (5)  1[(5)] (4)1 communication with parents or guardians regarding requests for accommodations related to fasting;

and           (6)  1[(6)] (5)1 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.

In1Nothing developingin the guidance pursuant to this section,section the commissioners shall consultbe withconstrued interestedas stakeholdersproviding ina thepublic education community, including, but not limited to, educators, school healththe professionals,authority religiousto: and community organizations, and organizations representing students with medical conditions that may require fasting.

          d.   (1)  Thealter DepartmentState ofgraduation Educationrequirements shallfor makestudents thewho guidanceare developedfasting for religious or medical reasons, unless such alterations are otherwise provided in a student’s individualized education program or pursuant to subsectionany a.other State or federal law;

of      this(2)  sectionpreclude publiclya availablestudent onwho itsis Internetfasting websitefor withinreligious 180or daysmedical followingreasons thefrom effectivemeeting datelocal graduation requirements as a result of any accommodations provided to the student pursuant to this act.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.1 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.

      1[d.] e.1    The Department of Education shall make the guidance developed pursuant to subsection a.

of this section publicly available on its Internet website within 1[180 days] one year1 following the effective date of this act.