OH HB619

Permits school districts to allow students in grades kindergarten through twelve to take up to three mental health days per school year as excused absences.

Mental health days do not require physician's or other health professional's certification and students must be given opportunity to make up missed schoolwork.

Mental health days are excluded from absence hour counts used for parental notice purposes under Ohio Revised Code section 3321.191.

School districts may either excuse students entirely or establish in-school mental health programs as an alternative to regular classes, and may refer students to counseling, social work, or psychological services after first use.

School districts may prohibit mental health days on specific dates such as standardized testing days, with advance notice provided on the school calendar released at the start of each school year.