Schools across Tayside and Fife could face a mass exodus on Friday when the next climate change protest is due to take place.
A UK-wide protest last month saw an estimated 15,000 children take to the streets but it clashed with half-term holidays in Courier Country.
Now Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell is calling on local authorities to follow the lead of Edinburgh City Council, which became the first in the country to state it would give students the day off as long as they have parental permission.
Mr Ruskell cited Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence and its objective of young people becoming “responsible citizens”, as well as the First Minister’s call for the voices of young people to be heard.
He said: “The climate crisis – and how we all respond to it – will now unavoidably define the lives of young people at school in Scotland today.
“Many are, completely rationally, fearful for their futures and those of young people around the world. It’s clear why they feel compelled to speak out and urge stronger action from governments and corporations who have not just failed to tackle this crisis but who have caused it.
“Local councils should support young people who chose to strike for the climate – after all, they epitomise what it means to be responsible citizens. They should certainly ensure that there is no threat of any form of punishment.”
No council in Tayside and Fife has taken a formal stance on the protests but Fife’s head of education, Peter McNaughton, said he will respect the decisions of young people and their parents or carers.
“Our general position is that we want all children and young people to attend school on a regular basis,” he said.
“The curriculum of our schools encourages citizenship in a range of important ways. This is something we all take very seriously.
“Decisions about taking time out of school for specific events sit with parents and families. Parents may want to discuss related aspects of this issue with their child’s school.
“On an individual basis, we would respect decisions made by young people and, of course, their parents and carers.”
In neighbouring Perth and Kinross, education chiefs have yet to take a stance on how to deal with truanting pupils.
A spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this proposal, and we will be exploring the issues around it in due course.”
Angus Council has now formal plan for the climate change event, saying absences will be dealt with using “established policies”.
“We will always seek to establish the individual circumstances of any young person who is recorded as absent from school without explanation or authorisation,” a spokesman added.
Dundee City Council does not have an official stance on the protests, but children and families convener Stewart Hunter hopes the political world will listen to the protesting pupils.
He said: “On one hand, I want children in the classroom learning, but on the other I am glad to see young people taking a stance and being politically engaged on such an important topic.
“They are the future and this is such a huge issue. I welcome them being so engaged with it.
“We don’t like the idea of kids missing classes, but if they are getting to the stage where they feel they have to walk out of a classroom to be heard, we as political leaders have failed them.
“As convener, I want to have more young voices heard, so I think on that level this is a good thing. The voices of young people should be heard more nationally and locally.”
