.03 Lawful Absence.

Students presently enrolled in public schools are considered lawfully absent from school, including absence for any portion of the day, only under the following conditions:

A. Death in the immediate family. The local school system shall determine what relationships constitute the immediate family.

B. Illness of the student, as follows:

(1) The principal or a school appointed designee shall require from the parent or guardian:

(a) A physician’s certificate for a student reported continuously absent for a physical illness or somatic health need; or

(b) A certificate from an appropriate health care provider licensed or certified under Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, for a student reported continuously absent for a behavioral health need.

(2) 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.

C. Pregnancy and parenting related conditions as determined by the local school system, including absences due to:

(1) Labor, delivery, recovery, and prenatal and postnatal medical appointments;

(2) Illness or a medical appointment of the student’s child; and

(3) A legal appointment involving the pregnant or parenting student related to family law proceedings, including adoption, custody, and visitation.

D. Court summons.

E. Hazardous weather conditions. Hazardous weather conditions shall be interpreted to mean weather conditions which would endanger the health or safety of the student when in transit to and from school.

F. Work approved or sponsored by the school, the local school system, or the State Department of Education, accepted by the local superintendent of schools or the school principal, or their designees as reason for excusing the students.

G. Observance of a religious holiday.

H. State emergency.

I. Suspension.

J. Lack of authorized transportation. This does not include students denied authorized transportation for disciplinary reasons.

K. Other emergency or set of circumstances which, in the judgment of the superintendent or designee, constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence from school.