New Jersey Statutes Title 18A. Education 18A § 36-33.2

a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a pupil of a public school in grades six through 12 who is absent from school to attend a civic event shall have one State-excused absence each school year for that purpose recorded as an excused absence on the pupil's attendance record or on that of any group or class of which the pupil is a member, provided that a written notice signed by a parent or guardian of the pupil is presented to the proper school authority pursuant to subsection b. of this section. A board of education may permit additional excused absences for such purposes. Any transcript, application, employment form, or any similar form on which information concerning a pupil's attendance record is requested shall show, with respect to absences, only absences other than excused absences authorized pursuant to this subsection.

b. The parent or guardian of a pupil shall provide a signed written notice of an intended excused absence to attend a civic event at least five school days in advance of the intended excused absence and such other documentation as the superintendent or administrative principal of the school district deems necessary to prove that the pupil meets the requirements for an excused absence pursuant to subsection a. of this section.