APS committee weighs fixed excused-day approach to support civic engagement and mental-health absences

The Atlanta Public Schools Policy Review Committee on April 16 discussed whether to create a set number of excused absence days to accommodate civic engagement, mental-health days and other events, comparing APS’s current approach with Fulton County’s model.

Members described the initial intent — to make it easier for students to attend civic events such as city council or school-board meetings — and then debated whether a capped number of days would be preferable to enumerating separate categories. Fulton County’s model (presented to the committee as a reference) allows a specified number of substitute absences per semester with remote-learning options in some cases.

"We were looking at the possibility of adding up to two days to engage in civic protest and up to one mental-health day," a board member said in explaining the genesis of the conversation. Members discussed an example figure of eight days (about 4.3% of a 180-day year) and the trade-offs between flexibility and keeping students in class.

Some members expressed concerns about remote learning substitutes and the logistical burden of verifying participation; others supported a single "bucket" of excused days to reduce parsing over reasons for absence. The committee ultimately agreed to table the numeric decision and asked staff to return with options and data.

Next steps: staff will analyze models (including Fulton County’s guidance), provide proposed day counts and logistics for verification (remote participation, parental notification), and return the item for further committee consideration.