1. (a) A student's absence due to a student's pregnancy or parenting needs is a lawful absence as provided under this section.
2. (b) Each county board shall develop a written attendance policy for pregnant and parenting students that, at a minimum, meets the requirements of this section.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The policy developed under subsection (b) of this section shall:

      1. (i) Excuse all absences due to pregnancy- or parenting-related conditions, including absences for:

         1. 1. Labor;
         2. 2. Delivery;
         3. 3. Recovery; and
         4. 4. Prenatal and postnatal medical appointments;
      2. (ii) Provide at least 10 days of excused absences for a parenting student after the birth of the student's child;
      3. (iii) Excuse any parenting-related absences due to an illness or a medical appointment of the student's child, including up to 4 days of absences per school year for which the school may not require a note from a physician;
      4. (iv) Excuse any absence due to a legal appointment involving the pregnant or parenting student that is related to family law proceedings, including adoption, custody, and visitation; and
      5. (v) Excuse any parenting-related absence from a class due to use of a lactation space to nurse or express breast milk.

   2. (2) In addition to home and hospital services, the school may allow the student to:

      1. (i) Make up the work that the student missed in a time period that equals at least as many days that the student was absent; and

      2. (ii) Choose one of the following alternatives to make up work that the student missed:

         1. 1. Retake a semester;
         2. 2. Participate in an online course credit recovery program; or
         3. 3. Allow the student 6 weeks to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date.
   3. (3) Each county board shall publish its written attendance policy for pregnant and parenting students on the county board's website.

Added by Acts 2017, c. 729, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017. Amended by Acts 2021, c. 345, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 346, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 109, § 5.