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DOE proposes Chapter 32 change to allow excused civic‑event absences for students in grades 6–12
Summary
The Department presented proposed amendments to Chapter 32 (school district operations) to align with a January 2024 statute and add a state‑excused absence option for students in grades 6–12 to attend civic events once per year; the proposal received two supportive and two opposing public comments in the department's summary.
The New Jersey Department of Education presented proposed amendments to Chapter 32 (school district operations) to align the code with statute and to add an option allowing students in grades 6–12 to be excused once per year to attend civic events.
The department said the change is driven by statute (cited as 18A:36‑33.2 in the presentation) and that the proposal adds a new category of state‑excused absences to permit limited civic participation. Presenters summarized public comments received during the comment period: two in support and two in opposition; one supporting commenter described personal benefit from civic engagement, while one opposing commenter said parents already have mechanisms to allow students to participate and called the amendment unnecessary.
The department explained the amendment is intended to align the chapter with a statute adopted in January 2024 and said a comment-and-response summary is available on the meeting agenda. Staff also indicated the executive director and department staff were present to answer questions about implementation and that stakeholders would receive additional guidance and information sessions.
No formal board vote on the Chapter 32 amendment was recorded in the transcript during this meeting. Department staff offered to respond to questions and to continue stakeholder outreach prior to any final board action.
