If state Senator Ronnie Chance has his way, kids needing to say goodbye to a parent heading overseas for military service will get an excused absence from school for up to five days.

Under Senate Bill 424, filed by Chance, students would also get up to five days off to visit with a parent on leave from deployment to a combat zone. The bill is currently in the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is supported by state School Superintendent Kathy Cox of Peachtree City.

Chance noted that Cox actually requested the legislation, and he said yes “because I agree with the concept of it.”

“Children need to spend time with their parents before they go off to fight a war,” Chance said. “It’s a traumatic time for all involved and they need to spend as much time as possible with their parent prior to deployment or when home on leave.”

The bill would not require school systems to change their policies on the maximum number of excused and unexcused absences.

Cox, a former teacher, is running for re-election this year.

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