AR HB1161

Creates the "Support for Pregnant and Parenting Students Act" requiring public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to include pregnancy and parenting protections in their attendance policies

Excuses absences related to pregnancy or parenting including labor, delivery, prenatal/postnatal appointments, child illness or medical appointments, and legal appointments regarding adoption, custody, or visitation

Provides at least 10 excused school days for both parenting mothers and fathers after birth, which do not count toward the 10-day threshold for mandatory dismissal under existing attendance rules

Allows students to make up missed work within a reasonable timeframe (at minimum equal to days absent) through options including semester retakes, online credit recovery, extended completion timelines, or home-based instruction

Requires reasonable accommodations for lactating students including access to private rooms, breast pump equipment, power sources, secure milk storage, and cleaning facilities without academic penalty, and requires schools to inform students about available child care options