This bill aims to clarify the attendance recording and reporting requirements for public school students in New Jersey. It establishes that students must be categorized as present, absent for an excused absence, absent for a State-excused absence, or absent for an unexcused absence. The bill defines excused absences to include instances related to physical health, mental health, court attendance, or a death in the family, and mandates that students be allowed to make up missed schoolwork. Additionally, it specifies that both excused and State-excused absences will not affect a student's eligibility for perfect attendance awards, and documentation is required to validate these absences.

Furthermore, the bill outlines specific State-excused absences, such as religious observances and participation in certain school-related activities, and clarifies that these absences will not count against a student's absentee rate. The Commissioner of Education is tasked with developing guidance for reporting student absences and calculating chronic absenteeism. The bill also amends existing law to ensure that attendance records are reported accurately in School Report Cards, including the disaggregation of excused and unexcused absences. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance the accuracy of attendance data and ensure fair treatment of students regarding their attendance records.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7E-3