AR HB1986

Children of fallen service members or fallen first responders may receive excused absences from public school for mental health concerns or to attend events from organizations supporting families of fallen service members/first responders or providing grief/resiliency support

"First responder" is defined as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or emergency medical provider; "child" includes biological, adopted, step-sons and step-daughters

Parents or guardians must provide written documentation that the absence is for an event from a qualifying sponsoring organization, which schools may verify through the Department of Education's Resources Page for Military Family Engagement

Students must be in good academic standing, have prior good attendance, and complete missed classwork within the school's required timeframe

Excused absences cannot be granted on dates when standardized testing is administered