Section 6-18-220 - Additional absences granted for participation in National FFA Organization, FCCLA, and 4-H programs - Equal treatment(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that:(1) The National FFA Organization, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc., and 4-H programs in the state involve an education and learning process that is not otherwise available in the regular curriculum of secondary education in Arkansas;(2) The principles and practices learned by school students in the National FFA Organization, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc., and 4-H programs are highly beneficial to students;(3) Participation in such programs should be encouraged; and(4) A method of encouraging participation in such programs is to grant additional excused absences to students who participate in officially sanctioned activities of those organizations.(b) It is the purpose and intent of this section to ensure that class absences of students who are participating in the following programs are excused to the extent established by public school district boards of directors, with the participants in the three (3) programs being treated equally with respect to such absences:(1) National FFA Organization;(2) The Arkansas Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc.; and(3)(B) An absence granted to a student due to the student's participation in a 4-H activity or program shall be determined according to subsection (d) of this section.(c) Any school district that grants additional excused absences of National FFA Organization member students who attend officially sanctioned National FFA Organization activities shall afford equal treatment to Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc. and 4-H member students who attend the same or similar officially sanctioned activities.(d)(1) A student who is absent from the school district in which he or she is enrolled shall be granted an excused absence by the public school district if the reason for the student's absence is to participate in 4-H activities or programs that are scheduled and approved by a county extension agent, 4-H educator, or other appropriate authority.(2) The maximum number of excused absences granted under subdivision (d)(1) of this section shall be established by each public school district board of directors in the public school district's student attendance policy.(3) A 4-H county extension agent, 4-H educator, or other appropriate entity associated with the 4-H activity or program shall provide to a public school principal or other designated official upon request documentation as proof of a student's participation in an activity or program scheduled and approved by the 4-H program.(4) A student who is granted an absence under subdivision (d)(1) of this section shall: (A) Be given the opportunity to complete any schoolwork that was missed while the student was absent; and(B) Not have his or her grades adversely affected due to his or her: (i) Absence from a class due to his or her participation in a 4-H activity or a program; or(ii) Participation in a 4-H activity or a program.(5) A public school principal or his or her designee shall not grant a student an excused absence under subdivision (d)(1) of this section if the student's participation in a 4-H activity or a program occurs during a period of time: (A) Scheduled by the State Board of Education during which statewide student assessments are administered; or(B) For which the student has been disciplined, suspended, or expelled, if the terms of the discipline, suspension, or expulsion would preclude the student from participating in a school-sponsored educational field trip or extracurricular activity.Amended by Act 2023, No. 448,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by Act 2023, No. 448,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by Act 2013, No. 1322,§ 3, eff. 8/16/2013.Amended by Act 2013, No. 1322,§ 2, eff. 8/16/2013.Acts 1981, No. 245, §§ 1, 2; 1981, No. 382, §§ 1, 2; 1981, No. 689, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 80-1558 -- 80-1561; Acts 2011, No. 1223, §§ 2, 3.