NEW YORK - The city Department of Education says it will excuse students who want to participate in next Friday's climate strike. 

The march will take place three days before the UN Climate Summit kicks off in the city, and it will call on world leaders to take action to fight climate change.

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg will speak at the event.

She sailed all the way here from England on a carbon neutral yacht. 

The DOE tweeted, "We applaud our students when they raise their voices in a safe and respectful manner on issues that matter to them."

Education officials do point out students will need parents' permission to miss school to attend the strike.