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Bill

A 2042

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

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Carter and 6 co-sponsors

Allows Ramadan students to substitute PE with credit-equal coursework or study hall, or be excused from sports during Ramadan, with notice and no penalties.

Reported as an Assembly Committee Substitute and Referred to Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee
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Bill Summary · A 2042

Summary of Assembly Bill A-2042 (2026)

Purpose and intent

  • Aims to accommodate high school students who observe the religious month of Ramadan by providing opt-out options from traditional physical education (PE) and athletic participation during the Ramadan period.
  • Recognizes fasting and related religious practice by offering less intensive alternatives without penalizing students.

Key provisions

1) Opt-out from physical education via alternative coursework
- A public high school student who observes Ramadan may substitute the required PE 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 schedules that marking period.
- The substitute course or study hall must grant the student graduation credits equal to those earned for completing the PE course.
- The bill notes that it does not override other PE or curriculum requirements, and explicitly states it does not preclude the provisions of N.J.S.18A:35-8 (which governs PE standards or related requirements).

2) Excusal from interscholastic/ intramural activities and cheerleading
- A student-athlete observing Ramadan may be excused from participation in interscholastic sports, intramural sports, or cheerleading during Ramadan.
- The student must submit written notice to the coach.
- Coaches are prohibited from penalizing a student-athlete for choosing to abstain during Ramadan.

3) Timing and effective date
- The act takes effect immediately but applies first to the first full academic year following enactment.

Who is affected

  • Public high school students who observe Ramadan (and may choose to substitute PE with an instructional course or study hall).
  • Student-athletes who observe Ramadan (who may be excused from athletic participation during Ramadan).
  • School principals and athletic coaches, who must handle notices and ensure non-penalization for abstention.

Other important details

  • The bill emphasizes that attendance and participation in health and safety education courses remain governed by existing requirements; it does not exempt students from the ongoing requirement to attend at least two and a half hours per week of health and safety education when those courses are scheduled.
  • The policy requires advance written notice from the student to the appropriate school authority or coach before schedule creation for the relevant marking period.

Potential impact

  • Provides culturally and religiously sensitive accommodation for Ramadan-based fasting by allowing alternative academic work in place of PE without loss of graduation credits.
  • Reduces potential conflicts between religious observance and school PE or athletic requirements.
  • Ensures that athletic participation is voluntary during Ramadan and protects students from penalty for opting out.
  • May require district-level policy adjustments to standardize notice procedures and scheduling accommodations across schools.

Summary in plain terms

This bill would allow public high school students observing Ramadan to either substitute PE with an equivalent-credit instructional course or study hall for the Ramadan marking period, or (for student-athletes) be excused from sports participation during Ramadan, all upon written notice. It is designed to respect religious practice while maintaining graduation credit equivalency and safeguarding students from penalties for opting out. It takes effect immediately but applies to the first full academic year after enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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