# Education (GED)

## Title 7. Public Schools

### Subtitle 3. Attendance and Discipline of Students

#### Section 7-301.1

(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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Md. Code Ann., Educ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)