New York (CNN) New York City's 1.1 million school students will be excused from class to participate in the global climate strike protests that are scheduled for this Friday.

The city's department of education announced the news a tweet.

.@NYCschools will excuse absences of students participating in the #ClimateStrike on Friday 9/20. Students will need parental consent. Younger students can only leave school with a parent. https://t.co/hcBO1Cnb3m — NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) September 12, 2019

Guidance sent to schools on Tuesday by the city's department of education advised that any student attending the protest -- with parental consent -- will have their absence excused.

This means middle and high school students will need to get permission, while elementary school students will still need to be signed out by a parent.

Children paint on a parachute made out of paper in New York City ahead of the September 20th Youth Climate Strike.

If you're a parent wanting to give permission to your child to be absent, you'll need to do so "in the same manner they normally would," the guidance reads. Basically, parents should follow their individual school's attendance protocol -- tell them in writing, in person, or by phone.

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