1. To be deemed in attendance for purposes of this chapter, a student may not be absent from school without excuse for more than: a. Three consecutive school days during either the first half or the second half of a school or school district's calendar; b. Six half days during either the first half or the second half of a school or school district's calendar; or c. Twenty-one class periods.

2. The board of each school district and governing body of each nonpublic school shall adopt a policy that:

a. Defines an excused absence as any absence from school, if that absence is supported by either a verbal or written excuse supplied by the student's parent, teacher, or school administrator; and b. Articulates the type of documentation that may be requested to verify a student's absence.

3. This chapter does not preclude a school district or nonpublic school from withholding credit, removing a student from a course, or taking other punitive measures against a student who does not arrive in a timely fashion or who exceeds a specific number of absences, as determined by the school district or nonpublic school.