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

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 5 co-sponsors

Ramadan-observing public high school students may substitute physical education with a credited instructional course and be excused from athletic participation during Ramadan.

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee

Summary of Bill S 1340 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to accommodate public high school students who observe Ramadan by allowing temporary modifications to physical education requirements and athletic participation during the holy month.

It recognizes fasting during Ramadan and provides less intensive alternatives for affected students while preserving graduation credits and overall academic requirements.

Key provisions

1) Substitute for physical education during Ramadan
- A public high school student who observes Ramadan may elect to substitute the required physical education course with an instructional course or study hall for the duration of the marking period in which Ramadan occurs.
- The student must submit written notice to the school principal before the district creates schedules for the marking period.
- The instructional course or study hall must grant the student the same number of high school graduation credits as the physical education course would have provided.
- The bill explicitly states that this substitution does not preempt other relevant provisions, and it does not affect applicable health and safety education requirements when those courses are scheduled.

2) Exemption from participation in athletic activities during Ramadan
- A student-athlete who observes Ramadan may be excused from participation in interscholastic sports, intramural sports, or cheerleading for the duration of Ramadan.
- The student-athlete must submit written notice to the coach.
- A coach may not penalize a student-athlete for choosing to be excused during Ramadan.

3) Effective date and applicability
- The act takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to the first full academic year following enactment.

Who is affected

Public high school students who observe Ramadan (including both general students and student-athletes).

School principals (notifying and scheduling implications).

Coaches of interscholastic, intramural, and cheerleading programs (provisions on participation and non-penalty).

Procedural and timeline notes

Written notice to the principal is required before the district schedules the marking period containing Ramadan.

For athletic exemptions, written notice must be provided to the relevant coach.

First applicable academic year: the first full year after enactment.

The bill is currently moving through committee stages with prior Senate approval (as of May–June 2026) and sponsor list includes multiple legislators.

Impact considerations

Academic impact: Ensures Ramadan-observing students earn the same credits for the substituted instructional activity as they would from physical education.

Health and safety: Maintains that health and safety education requirements apply when scheduled; substitution is specific to the physical education component during Ramadan.

Equity and inclusion: Provides explicit accommodations to support religious observance without penalizing students academically or athletically.

Practical considerations: Requires early coordination (notice before schedule creation) to implement substitutions smoothly.

Notes for readers

The bill reflects New Jersey’s approach to balancing curricular requirements with religious observance, offering flexible alternatives during Ramadan while preserving graduation standards and athletic participation rights.