Fla. Stat. 1003.24
Parents responsible for attendance of children; attendance policy
(1)
WITH PERMISSION.—The absence was with permission of the head of the school;(2)
WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE.—The absence was without the parent’s knowledge, consent, or connivance, in which case the student shall be dealt with as a dependent child;(3)
FINANCIAL INABILITY.—The parent was unable financially to provide necessary clothes for the student, which inability was reported in writing to the superintendent prior to the opening of school or immediately after the beginning of such inability, provided that the validity of any claim for exemption under this subsection shall be determined by the district school superintendent subject to appeal to the district school board; or(4)
SICKNESS, INJURY, OR OTHER INSURMOUNTABLE CONDITION.—Attendance was impracticable or inadvisable on account of sickness or injury, as attested to by a written statement of a licensed practicing physician, or was impracticable because of some other stated insurmountable condition as defined by and attested to in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education. If a student is continually sick and repeatedly absent from school, he or she must be under the supervision of a physician, or if the absence is related to the student having autism spectrum disorder, receiving services from a licensed health care practitioner or behavior analyst certified pursuant to s. 393.17, in order to receive an excuse from attendance. Such excuse provides that a student’s condition justifies absence for more than the number of days permitted by the district school board.(5)
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.—A student who participates in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) must be credited with an excused absence by the school in which he or she is enrolled in the same manner as any other excused absence is credited. Any such participation in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H or FFA may not be counted as an unexcused absence, for any day, portion of a day, or days missed from school.Upon request from a school principal or the principal’s designee, a 4-H or FFA representative shall provide documentation as proof of a student’s participation in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H or FFA.As used in this subsection, the term “4-H representative” means an individual officially recognized or designated by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Program as a 4-H professional or a 4-H adult volunteer.(a)
A student who participates in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) must be credited with an excused absence by the school in which he or she is enrolled in the same manner as any other excused absence is credited. Any such participation in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H or FFA may not be counted as an unexcused absence, for any day, portion of a day, or days missed from school.(b)
Upon request from a school principal or the principal’s designee, a 4-H or FFA representative shall provide documentation as proof of a student’s participation in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H or FFA.(c)
As used in this subsection, the term “4-H representative” means an individual officially recognized or designated by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Program as a 4-H professional or a 4-H adult volunteer.
Source:
Section 1003.24 — Parents responsible for attendance of children; attendance policy, https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/1003.24 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).