TRENTON, NJ—A groundbreaking bill has been introduced in New Jersey. It is Sponsored by Assemblywomen Shanique Speight and Shama A. Haider and co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson.
The legislation mandates that school districts grant students up to ten excused absences per year for symptoms related to menstrual disorders, including but not limited to dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhagia, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
The bill outlines that these excused absences will not be recorded negatively on the student’s attendance record, nor will they affect any school awards or recognitions based on attendance. Students will have the opportunity to make up missed work without penalty. Moreover, schools may require medical documentation to validate the excused absences due to menstrual disorders.
Additionally, the Commissioner of Education, with insights from the Commissioner of Health, is tasked with establishing criteria for what constitutes an excused absence under these circumstances. This legislation, set to be operational at the start of the first full school year following its enactment 180 days after its signing, aims to combat period poverty and the educational disruptions it causes. Notably, menstruating students, particularly those of color and from low-income backgrounds, face higher risks of period poverty, impacting their school attendance and performance.