A2042 ACS

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman AL BARLAS

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

Assemblyman AL ABDELAZIZ

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Carter, Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen Sampson, Karabinchak, Spearman, Kennedy, Assemblywomen Morales, Brennan, Assemblymen Stanley, Freiman and Moen

SYNOPSIS

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

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Substitute as adopted by the Assembly Education Committee.

An Act concerning religious and medical accommodations for public school students and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall develop and distribute guidance to public schools concerning accommodations for students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons.

b. The guidance required pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations concerning:

(1) flexibility for physical education classes, athletic participation, examinations, and other school activities;

(2) differentiated instruction and alternative educational activities for students whose fasting may affect participation in certain physical activities;

(3) strategies to support students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons without adversely affecting the students’ academic standing or access to instruction aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards;

(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.