New Law Gives Options to Religious Students

A new law in NJ, set in 2025 created a process where parents can request that their child be excused from certain topics and activities in class due to religious reasons. While the state has previously allowed this for health and physical education, the new law provides a clearer pathway for families to align their students' public school education with their own personal faith.

At Nutley High School, this policy is being guided by the administration to make sure students still meet requirements for graduating while respecting the rights of students and their parents. For many families, this has already been helpful. This is not students missing class for the sake of it, but a useful opportunity for them to maintain a spiritual environment for themselves. 

Typically for high school students, this would be applied to subjects like Biology, English, or World History, where specific parts of the curriculum may not align with theological teachings. Rather than totally missing that class time, students who do opt out are reassigned to a supervised study hall to complete other assignments that fulfill the same state mandated standards for learning, but not at the expense of their faith.

This new law has impacted several students this year, helping better their experience as students. Sophomore Menal Nagi is one of them. Nagi had been provided accommodations necessary for her physical education class during Ramadan. The holiday began February 17/18 and lasted till the 19th of March, a month on the Islamic calendar where Muslims fast. From dawn to sunset they are not allowed food, drinks (water as well) or smoking - though after that time they are allowed to eat and drink again. Not being at her physical best due to her religious practices, Nagi was able to sit out of her PE class because of this law. “My parents signed the waiver so I could sit out of the gym, and go to a study hall instead.” Nagi said. “I didn't want to be out of the gym, but Ramadan is very spiritual. I didn't want to feel exhausted.” 

Another student who has taken advantage of this law is sophomore Jasmine Zuniga. She used this policy during her Biology class, where her family's Christian beliefs didn't align with what she was being taught. When the topic of evolution was being taught, she was able to do an alternative lesson. For some Christians like Zuniga, there is a slight worry in accepting evolution because they don't want to abandon parts of the Bible. “Recently I've really been trying to connect with my religion more, I didn't want to do anything that would've messed with that,” Zuniga said. 

Sophomore Shayna Baldwin is very religious. She follows Judaism, and like Zuniga had opted out of lessons regarding the study of evolution and human origins. Baldwin's family follows more traditional interpretations, and believes in the Six-Day Creation. “I was able to do work for another class instead; it was really nice.” Baldwin said.

An opt-out does not mean it's an easy way to avoid class for students. They are still required to demonstrate mastery of the basic skills. In the case of Zuniga and Baldwin, the theory of evolution still has to be known. But, they are allowed to be excused from certain lessons and discussions regarding it.