Taking Kids out of school About This Page:

[Alaine]

This year, for the 1st time, I am pulling my kids out of school for 7 days. It's going to be tough and ALOT of make-up work. My kids already know that the plane ride is the homework ride and each night in the hotel room they will have to knock off some work as well. My kids have a half day of school the day before we leave & the day we come home, they have that next day off. So that will help alot. My biggest concern is my daughter who just started grade 7 (that means 7 teachers to talk to regarding makeup work).

[wyomom]

Originally Posted by Pax

"No child left behind" is a crock.

You'll never hear a teacher say that ... because they'd lose their entire career for it. But I'm not a teacher, so I WILL say it: IT IS A COMPLETE CROCK. It's nonsense, balderdash, and utter huffery-puffery.

And it does far far more harm than good, six days a week and thrice on Sundays.

I am somewhat in agreement with this statement. Last school year (4th grade), my DS's teacher, principal, and two tudors that were to be assigned to him, pulled me in for a conference regarding DS's reading & math grades. He is a A/B student (never anything less) and they were basing their assumptions on PAWS testing when he was a third grader! Mind you, it was two months before school was out for the summer and they just now want to do something about it when his grades were proving that he was a good student. Also, keep in mind that the PAWS tests were done while DH & I were in Malaysia for two weeks and our children were staying with our friends. DS was stressed over us being gone and on top of it, he had the pressure of these tests for the first time!
Well, these tudors were to "help bring his abilities up to par" but all it did was bring his other grades down as he was missing class time to be with these tudors, even after his teacher reassured me that she would be lienent on those missed classes!! I felt bullied by the group and caved to the idea of tudors as the principal told me that my son "could have the potential of being a drop-out in high school" but know that this will not happen again! You know what galls me the most; the fact that the PAWS tests were inaccurately read that year for the state!
In the years they have been doing the "no child left behind" every note stated that he was a great student, working at or beyond his grade capabilities. Not once did the teachers or the principal find reason to believe he would be a "potential drop-out" with their "no child left behind" analysis!!! Needless to say, I will never allow this to happen again!

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata

I believe children need down time. They need vacation with family. They need play time each day.

In short: children need time to be children.

As for the truancy issues, I'd love to see someone take me to court over a family vacation. I'd show up laughing.

Better: bring a family psychiatrist, and have THEM show up laughing.

[Moyer8]

Well, we sent the letter to school and already received the form back from our DD5 teacher. She wrote "Have a good time and bring something back to show the class." Our DD17 & 15 turned their's in and were just told that when it got closer, a form would be sent to all their teachers to give them the assignments they will need. Just waiting to hear from DD10 and DS 12's teachers. Things are looking good!

[Dreaming of DisneyWorld]

I am just curious about where everyone sends their children: public or parochial schools? We will most likely go parochial. My nieces go there now, and we were told the school doesn't allow the students to miss for vacation. I'm not sure what that means or how they plan to enforce it. If the parents don't have a problem with it, and the parents are going to be responsible about it, I don't know why the school would care.......especially since they're getting their money. Just wanted some input from all of you.

[HeatherD]

I don't know why the school would care.......especially since they're getting their money. Just wanted some input from all of you.

Because their reputation is at stake - parochial schools (really, any private school) gets more students by being the best education out there.

So, I read through DD's handbook that we got Wed night - our district (5th largest in country) has 2 types, though it's technically 3 types:
Unexcused - no note or excuse is given for absence
Excused - note is written and filed, doctor's note is given, etc.
Prearranged - this is technically an "excused" absence, but they delineate in their numbers.

We are allowed no more than 10 prearranged, which count in the excused count as well - so, say you can have 15 excused total; only 10 can be prearranged.

So, we are taking DD out for a week in October to go to Hawaii with my parents (that's when they get their timeshare, so there's no choice if we want to go with them) and for 3 days in December to go to Disneyland. We'll be fine. And I like that they recognize that.

Regarding "no child left behind" - educators agree that it is a spectacular failure. Our school is actually getting penalized for having high scores - improvement numbers are based on the year before, with each year required to get better. We've reached a bit of a ceiling, where there are simply some kids who will not pass the test - not everyone can do it. So, if there are only 5 kids that don't pass, but next year, those 5 kids again don't pass, that's considered a failure to improve. And the teachers are spending so much time trying to bring the performing-below-average kids up to speed that the kids already there (and many times the "gifted" kids) are getting shafted. Do a google search for "no child left behind" and "football" (or football analogy?)....it's a great humorous way to point out why it doesn't work. OK, I'll step off my soapbox now....(but I'm not putting it away yet!)

[Pax]

Yes, that's the nonsensical part of "no child left behind" - they don't say "meet X standard", they say "continually exceed prior performance".

You know, if a school had ZERO failures in Year X, I bet you in Year X+1 if they again had ZERO failures .... IOW, if they were a perfect school ... the regulations would still label them as a "Failure to Improve".

And parents, at that point, might be lucky to get a six-hour Visitation Right every second weekend, while the kids remained locked in their schools the remainder of the time. 8P

[guitardiva]

We usually go in the winter. The summer is just too hot and crowded for us. Also, my husband's work is crazy busy in the summer. Jan & Feb is slow time for him .
I tell the schools early on to make sure that all the teachers have plenty of notice. Then I make sure that each teacher is asked for work. They are usually right on top of making up work. I do advise anyone to make sure that they keep midterms in mind (we go after them)
Its a personal decision I guess. I just like having the family time.
ohh...
When they were younger I would make them write a trip journal. There were even teachers that acceptated them as make up work.

[JECinderella]

Here in Maryland, the school handbook says there can be up to 5 "excused" absences for family vacations per school year, We need to send a note into the principal for "permission" at least 10 days in advance...

Last year we took DD out for a total of 5 days (one of them being a 1/2 day of school) last year (Kindergarten). We had planned the trip before school started and we knew of the school rules... The principal sent us a letter "excusing" absences, but said it was an "exception" and not the rule to be off for vacation. Personally, I think its just a form letter to cover their butts...

This year, we looked at the school calender (we got one for the current year and the next year, so we planned in advance!) . We chose to go to Disney around Halloween, because the kids have off on Halloween for "teacher planning" and then the following Monday and Tuesday for some teacher thing and Election Day. So DD will only really miss 4 days of school, despite us being away from 10/29 through 11/8. We tried to maximize the vacation with minimal disruption, KWIM?

Hard to do if you don't get an advanced calendar, but might be a way to go in the future! Oh, and BTW, we got the teacher and the principal gifts last year when we got back. Sort of a suck up I guess!!

[disneydreamer33]

I think the first few weeks of school is usually reviewing things from last year. My girls have been in school almost a month now and are still doing things from last year. They are in the 1st and 3rd grade. They haven't started anything new. I think it would be okay. I would make a call to the school and let them know ahead of time if possible.

[Tinc]

Took the kids out last year for 13 days 2nd and 4th graders at the time. Will be doing it again this year. Family time is so important to us that we belive in taking them out. Think years from now or even 6 months after your trip. Will teacher's really care if they were their or not? Honestly homework is so out of control that even one day missed and children have hours of extra work. We refuse to pressure them to get it all done. I write the teacher a note and explain what we thought was a reasonable amount to make up and if they didn't like it we would meet with their boss to discuss it. Never had a problem and the kids get great grades.

[ChristyLeni]

I've taken DD11 out of school for at least a week every year since, well, since she started school. It has never been an issue. My entire family vacations together as a group each year and I think there are some things that just shouldn't be missed. She's an exceptional student and we always take the homework along and make sure it's finished before we return. My opinion is always, a great week with family experiencing new things or a week at school? Vacation always wins. Plus the crowds and temps are soooo much nicer during the school year!

[amymarie78]

Good Ole PA I just talked with the teacher about our March trip.. her only request.. take her with us!!! But his days will be excused as educational so I'm please with that. And his teacher said it's easier for her if he makes up the work when he gets back... since if something happens and she changes plans he could be doing all the wrong work while gone.. so that works for me too!

[mama2disneyfan]

We are taking DD {2nd Grade} out of school for our trip in March for the first time. I am planning on calling her teacher to discuss it as well as checking the Policies book when I get home from work. I don't recall what it says about vacations. Our DD attends a Catholic school and well they are getting paid whether she is there or not. I think that not only is it good to have family time, but it is also educational. Disney World has so much about other countries/cultures and technology that it seems impossible that she won't learn something.

How do I find out if my state allows for educational vacation/travel {I am not sure what it is called}?
Thanks!

[Pax]

One thing I noticed at Disney, the past several days, by the way? You can't walk thirty feet without hearing at LEAST two accents (or even languages) from "somewhere far away". Which is kinda neat, IMO. And also somewhat educational, in the sense of diversity ... yet ... we're all people, like anyone else.