<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-301.4" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Attendance and Discipline of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “legislative body” means an entity that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Meets to set or carry out public policy;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is subject to the Open Meetings Act; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Consists of members who are elected or appointed by the Governor or a local executive authority.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The student attendance policy of a county board shall include a provision allowing an excused or discretionary absence for a public school student participating in civic engagement activities.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Civic engagement activities shall include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Testifying virtually or in person at a hearing of a legislative body;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Meeting with members of a legislative body;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Contributing to the consideration, development, or implementation of policy issues; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Participating in the Maryland General Assembly Page Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If the attendance policy requires a note to excuse an absence, the policy shall authorize an appropriate representative to provide a note or reasonable documentation to excuse the student’s absence.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A county board shall adopt policies and procedures to carry out the requirements of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
