Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused or Discretionary Absences for Civic Engagement

Summary

The bill directs the Maryland State Department of Education and every county board of education to adopt attendance policies that excuse students who participate in defined civic‑engagement activities. It covers testifying at General Assembly hearings, meeting with legislators, advocating on policy issues, and other activities the department deems civic engagement, and it ensures those absences do not count toward chronic absenteeism. The change aims to encourage student involvement in the democratic process without penalizing their school attendance record.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

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