S 4385

SENATE, No. 4385
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires school districts to permit students excused
absences for student illness.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act concerning student attendance 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 school district in
developing, adopting, and implementing policies and procedures regarding
attendance of students at school shall define an excused absence from school to
include an absence for an illness of the student, provided that the parent or
guardian of the student submits supporting documentation to the school district
upon the student�s return to school in accordance with subsection b. of this
section.
���� b.� The Commissioner of
Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall develop
guidelines on defining an excused absence from school for a student�s illness.�
The guidelines shall include the supporting documentation that may be required
by the school district upon the student�s return to school after an absence for
an illness for the absence to be considered an excused absence.
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the first full school year next following the date
of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Education may take any
anticipatory administrative action in advance as may be necessary for the
implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires school
districts to permit students excused absences for student illness.
���� Under the bill, a school
district in developing, adopting, and implementing policies and procedures
regarding attendance of students at school is required to define an excused
absence from school to include an absence for an illness of the student, provided
that the parent or guardian of the student submits supporting documentation to
the school district upon the student�s return to school.
���� The Commissioner of Education,
in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will develop guidelines on
defining an excused absence from school for a student�s illness.� The
guidelines will include the supporting documentation that may be required by
the school district upon the student�s return to school after an absence for an
illness for the absence to be considered an excused absence.