Student Absence Allowed for Deploying or Returning Service Member

Effective May 28, 2008, Public Act 141 (the "Act")
amended the Revised School Code to allow a student to be
absent up to one full day because his or her parent, legal
guardian, or sibling is a service member being deployed to
or returning from active duty. MCL 380.1138. The Act
also allows a student to be absent from school for up to two
full school days if the location of the deployment or return
is more than 300 miles from the student's home. Under
these circumstances, school officials must consider the
absence(s) to be excused. The Act, however, does not
prohibit school officials from considering a longer absence
to be excused under these circumstances. Additionally,
school districts, intermediate school districts, and public
school academies should ensure that their attendance
policies are consistent with this Act.

As used in the Act, "service member" means a member
of the armed forces, a reserve branch of the armed forces, or
the Michigan National Guard. "Active duty" means active
duty pursuant to an executive order of the President of the
United States, an act of congress, or an order of the Governor.