<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-301.3" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Attendance and Discipline of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Department and each county board shall adopt an attendance policy for public school students that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Treats an absence due to a student’s behavioral health needs the same as an absence due to illness or another somatic health need; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the policy requires a note from a health care provider to excuse an absence, authorizes an appropriate health care provider licensed or certified under the Health Occupations Article to provide a note to excuse the absence.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If a student or the student’s parent or guardian notifies a public school that the student’s absence was due to a behavioral health need, the school shall provide information to the student or the student’s parent or guardian about school or community behavioral health resources that are available to the student.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A county board may adopt policies and procedures to carry out the requirements of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
