Codifies regulations concerning State-excused absences; permits excused absence for students attending military service activities, certain school visits, and open-houses.

A4573

ASSEMBLY, No. 4573

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� ROSAURA "ROSY" BAGOLIE

District 27 (Essex and Passaic)

Assemblywoman� ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Angelozzi

SYNOPSIS

���� Codifies regulations concerning State-excused
absences; permits excused absence for students attending military service
activities, certain school visits, and open-houses.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning public school excused absences and
supplementing chapter 36 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. �A student shall be
recorded with a State-excused absence on the student�s attendance record if the
absence is the result of:

���� (1)�� the student�s religious
observance pursuant to N.J.S.18A:36-14, N.J.S.18A:36-15, and N.J.S.18A:36-16;

���� (2)�� participation in
observance of Veterans Day pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.297
(C.18A:36-13.2);

���� (3)�� participation in
district board of election membership activities pursuant to section 1 of
P.L.2001, c.271 (C.18A:36-33);

���� (4)�� participation in a civic
event pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2023, c.274 (C.18A:36-33.2);

���� (5)�� participation in Take
Our Children to Work Day;

���� (6)�� the closure of a busing
school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the
receiving school; and

���� (7)�� a military service
activity, a college, vocational, or trade school visit, or a labor-related open
house, up to three days per school year, for a student in grades 11 and 12. ��

���� b.��� Any transcript,
application, employment form, or any similar form on which information
concerning a student's attendance record is requested shall not show excused
absences authorized pursuant to this section.� In making a determination on
whether a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year, a public
school shall not consider as an absence a State-excused absence authorized
pursuant to this section.

���� c.���� A student shall provide
any documentation the superintendent or administrative principal of the school
district deems necessary to prove the student meets the requirements for a
State-excused absence.

���� d.��� As used in this section,
�military service activity� means any activity required by the active and
reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National
Guard to be eligible to enlist in military service including, but not limited to,
any testing, medical or physical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting.

���� 2. This act shall take effect
180 days following the date of enactment, but shall remain inoperative until
the first day of the first full school year following the effective date.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill codifies, and
expands upon, State-excused absences for public school students.

���� Under the State Board of
Education�s regulations, students are required to be recorded as present,
absent, or excused for a State-excused absence.� The seven State-excused
absences centrally located in the regulations include: 1) a student�s religious
observance; 2) participation in observance of Veterans Day; 3) participation in
district board of election membership activities; 4) participation in �Take Our
Children to Work Day�; 5) up to three days per school year for students in
grades 11 and 12 to visit colleges; 6) a closure of a busing school district
that prevents a student from having transportation to a receiving school; and
7) participation in a civic event. ��

���� Currently, four of the seven
State-excused absences are established in statute. �This bill codifies the
seven listed State-excused absence requirements found in the regulations.�

���� The bill also expands upon the
State-excused absences for college visits.� Under the bill, students who are
absent to attend a military service activity, vocational or trade school visit,
or a labor-related open house are similarly entitled to three State-excused
absences each school year during grades 11 and 12 as those students attending
college visits under the regulations.

���� The regulations also currently
permit boards of education to adopt policies that establish locally approved or
excused absences.� Nothing in this bill prevents a board of education from
establishing local policies concerning approved or excused absences in
accordance with State board regulations.