Potter's Hand Homeschoolers

Homeschool Teen Working

If you have a minor under the age of 16 that would like to work they may work during the day for 3 hours a day no more then 18 hours in a week before 7:00pm. If they want to work during the school day they may do so, just provide the employer with a letter stating the time at which the student does their school work, along with the working papers. If they are working during school hours it is only allowed if the place of employment does not do business with other states such as shipping goods to other states. At that point, the national child labor laws would come into the picture and they state you may only work after school hours. So according to NJ our kids can work during the day but for only 3 hours.

State: New Jersey

Authority: Child Labor Laws, NJ. Stat. Ann. '' 34:2-21.1 to 22a. U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Informal Survey, 1991.

General Rule: Minors between 14 and 16 may be employed outside school hours and during school vacations. NJSA ' 34:2-21.2.

Employers of minors under 18 must procure an employment certificate for the minor. NJSA ' 34:2-213 (a).

Employment certificates shall be of two kinds: Regular which permits employment during school hours; and Vacation which permits employment during school vacations, and during the term but when school is not in session. NJSA ' 34:2-2:13(d).

Obtaining a Certificate: Certificates can be obtained through your local township High School and are issued upon application of the minor, after the following are approved:

1. A signed promise of employment.
2. Evidence of Age: Birth certificate, baptismal certificate, other documentary evidence.
3. Statement of physical fitness signed by a medical inspector or physician.
4. School record signed by the principal in which the minor has last attended or someone duly authorized by him. NJSA ' 34:2-21.8.

Definitions: Issuing officer means any superintendent of schools, supervising principal, or teacher in a school district who is designated by the board of education in the district to issue certificates or permits. NJSA ' 34:2-21.1(c).

School district means any geographical area having authority over the public schools within that area. NJSA ' 34:2-21.1 (d).

Maximum Hours and Night work Restrictions: NJSA ' 34:2-21.3.

1. Maximum Day - Weekly Hours - Days per Week
   • Under 16: 8-40-6, Non-school day period: 10-hour day, 6 day week in agriculture.
     3-18, School day/Week
   • 16 & 17: 8-40-6
2. Night work Prohibitions
   • Under 16: 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation with parental permission) to 7 a.m.
   • 16 & 17: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during school term, with specified variations

Agriculture Jobs: US Senate Subcommittee on Labor.

1. Minors working in agriculture are exempted from state child labor laws.
2. Minimum age for minors to Work as migrant and seasonal farm workers is 12.
3. Requires work certificates for minors under 16 working in agriculture.

Strategy: Work certificates are obtained for homeschoolers through the superintendent of public instruction or public school principals or teachers authorized to issue certificates. The requirements are easy to meet, though a school record signed by the principal is required. No explanation is given, but it would seem that the homeschooling parent�s signature would suffice to meet this requirement.

Though New Jersey allows a student to work during school hours, federal laws would pre-empt the state if the employer met the interstate commerce and over $500K gross business a year test

The subject of jury duty has often come up in conversation among homeschoolers and the main question is whether homeschool parents are required to serve as a juror.

The answer to this comes from the Homeschool Legal Defense Association who deals with this recurring question. In some states, jury duty can be put off for a period of time, due to many different reasons such as caring for an elderly person, a mother with young children, or serious health problems.

When it comes to homeschooling and jury duty in the state of New Jersey, you can write on your jury duty form that you received in the mail, that you are homeschooling and that serving on a jury would interfere with your compliance with NJ state mandates and therefore cannot serve as a juror. If for some reason, you are not excused after filling out your response form, you should contact HSDLA to know your rights and how to proceed further