(a) A student's absence due to a student's pregnancy or parenting needs is a lawful absence as provided under this section. (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. (c) (1) The policy developed under subsection (b) of this section shall: (i) Excuse all absences due to pregnancy- or parenting- related conditions, including absences for: 1. Labor; 2. Delivery; 3. Recovery; and 4. Prenatal and postnatal medical appointments; (ii) Provide at least 10 days of excused absences for a parenting student after the birth of the student's child; (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; (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 (v) Excuse any parenting-related absence from a class due to use of a lactation space to nurse or express breast milk. (2) In addition to home and hospital services, the school may allow the student to: (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 (ii) Choose one of the following alternatives to make up work that the student missed: 1. Retake a semester; 2. Participate in an online course credit recovery program; or 3. Allow the student 6 weeks to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date. (3) Each county board shall publish its written attendance policy for pregnant and parenting students on the county board's website.
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