---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-692.1. Excused absences relative to the armed forces.
collection: code
id: 20-2-692.1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-692.1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-692.1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-692.1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-692.1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch1-2b-(v17)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=bfd7f2d1_0#page=225
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / STUDENTS / SCHOOL ATTENDANCE / Compulsory Attendance
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-692.1. Excused absences relative to the armed forces.

(a) A student whose parent or guardian is in military service in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard, and such parent or guardian has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, for the day or days missed from school to visit with his or her parent or guardian prior to such parent’s or guardian’s deployment or during such parent’s or guardian’s leave.

(b) A student whose parent or guardian is currently serving or previously served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, in the Reserves of the armed forces of the United States on extended active duty, or in the National Guard on extended active duty may be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, not to exceed two school years, for the day or days missed from school to attend military affairs sponsored events, provided the student provides documentation prior to absence from:

(1) A provider of care at or sponsored by a medical facility of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or

(2) An event sponsored by a corporation exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require a local school system to revise any policies relating to maximum number of excused and unexcused absences for any purposes.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-692.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2006, p. 533, § 1/HB 984; Ga. L. 2018, p. 208, § 1/HB 718; Ga. L. 2025, p. 92, § 5/SB 123, effective July 1, 2025.

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, substituted “parent or guardian” for “parent or legal guardian” in three places in subsection (a) and once in subsection (b) and substituted “parent’s or guardian’s” for “parent’s or legal guardian’s” in twice in subsection (a).