193:1-d Excused Absences for Civic and Career Technical Education Activities. –
I. Students in public or public charter primary or secondary schools who wish to attend civic events during the school day shall have their school absences excused.
II. For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Civic event" means:
(1) Any event, activity, hearing, or meeting held by a federal, state, county, or local government office, agency, or body; or
(2) Any educational program, competition, or award ceremony sponsored or hosted by a patriotic or national organization, listed in 36 U.S.C., Subtitle II, Part B.
(b) "Career or technical education event," or "CTE event," means:
(1) State, regional, or national competitions or conferences sponsored by CTE student organizations recognized by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 186:11, XXXIX;
(2) Agricultural fairs where students are exhibiting livestock or project work; or
(3) Individual job shadows or workplace observations of no more than one school day per employer.
III. Schools shall be required to excuse 2 of a student's school day absences per academic year for civic or CTE events.
(a) This paragraph shall not preclude schools from excusing further absences at their own discretion.
(b) Participation in activities related to statutory or executive New Hampshire youth advisory councils, either as a member or a guest, shall supersede this paragraph and shall always be excused.
(c) Students attending multi-day civics or CTE programs may have absences for such programs excused with proof of attendance.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prevent schools from requiring students to complete schoolwork missed due to an excused absence.
(e) Except as provided under paragraph III(b), students seeking more than 2 excused absences per academic year for ongoing participation in the same civic or CTE activity shall enroll in an extended learning opportunity. All absences to engage in an extended learning opportunity plan approved by the student's school shall be excused, contingent on the student completing any schoolwork missed.
IV. Schools may require students provide evidence of attendance of the activity they claim participation in to verify the justification of the absence. Such evidence may include:
(a) A form created by the school and signed by an official of the activity, such as a New Hampshire house or senate committee clerk or other government staffer, or event official; or
(b) A letter of excusal signed by a government or event official.
V. In addition to the requirements outlined in paragraph III, parents shall submit a notice to school administrators no less than two school days before their student intends to be absent to attend a civic or CTE event, with the exception of election days.