Your thoughts on kids missing school to go to Disney

[kniquy]

Our next trip won't be until our boys are 12 and in the 6th grade. We are planning on going during their april vacation but a tuesday to tuesday -- no biggie because they will only be missing 2 days of school. Our other option would be to go around memorial day, same thing tues - tues but they would miss a total of 5 days -- this time of year the points and flights would be a little cheaper, but i am not thrilled with them missing that many days, so we will likely opt for April time.

I am just wonder what everyone's thoughts are about kids missing school to go to Disney -- is it okay for a couple days, is it not acceptable at all, once they reach a certain grade is it a big no-no? Please share your thoughts. I am guessing as they get to jr high and high school it would just be more difficult with sports and with their school work load.

 

[JessNewt]

I've seen so many debates and discussions regarding this online. My little ones are just starting school and I'm also interested in this.

Seems like the first thing is check how your kids feel about missing school. Are they quick to catch up on missed material? Do they want to miss those days?

Equally important is checking with the rules of the school. In my area, if you pull your kid out of school for more than X number of days in a semester, it is considered with-holding education from them, and the school has to report you to the authorities. I'm not sure how often they actually do that, but it's part of the school's document.

For my family, while my kids are still in elementary school, I will probably plan trips during the "off" holidays (like Fall break) and pull them out the day before and the day after the holiday. Once they get older, I doubt I'll pull them out of school for vacation. We'll just cruise with the crowds

 

[disneynutz]

You are the parent, they are your kids, I would do what you want but instruct the kids not to go back to school bragging about their vacation. It will create a tough situation for the teachers.

Bill

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It also has a lot of dependencies. What kind of units are they doing near Memorial Day, or near April? Tests? Etc.?

You have some advantage that it's later in the year. I know someone who pulled hr kids from school for Disney, and then one of the kids ended up very sick. Even with the doctor's notes, her child is now at sufficient missed days as to have a truancy hearing. You can't always predict the full year, and the missed days can become a problem even if they aren't originally.

Some districts are also a lot stricter than others.

 

[sleepydog25]

Agree with Bill. Your kids; your call. Obviously, there are a lot of variables (how are their grades? activities?), but in the end, it's a parental call. I'm all for the idea for kids who a) don't miss much and b) have solid grades.

 

[kniquy]

if you pull your kid out of school for more than X number of days in a semester, it is considered with-holding education from them, and the school has to report you to the authorities. I'm not sure how often they actually do that, but it's part of the school's document.

I had never even thought of this as an issue. I don't think our school system has that restriction. One of my kids classmates went for a week this past October and no issues were mentioned. But definitely something to look into.

I would have no problem with my kids bringing some work with them to do on the plane or during some down time, so we would definitely coordinate with the teachers beforehand. I really don't see this happening once they hit Jr high.

And as for them not wanting to miss school -- I'll have to ask them about that tonight but I doubt they would pick school over Disney - ha ha!!

 

[brooke789]

I hate for the kids to miss school for vacation (my kids not yours...haha). We've booked a vacation for this year which would have them missing the last two days of school (IF we have snow make up days). Those days would likely be half days so we decided to go ahead with the dates that worked best for us and have them possibly miss the last two days of school.

One special consideration we had is that our children are in the school they attending using "school choice". Their attendance and disciplinary record is reviewed once a year before they offer us school choice for the next year. So, having even a week of missed days in the middle of the year could possibly hurt our chance of attending the school we prefer.

 

[sleepydog25]

I had never even thought of this as an issue. I don't think our school system has that restriction. One of my kids classmates went for a week this past October and no issues were mentioned. But definitely something to look into.

I'm guessing most systems do have some rules set in place even if they're not often enforced. I work for a school system, and our policy is that after 5 and 8 absences, a form letter is sent to the parent(s) expressing concern over the missed class days. Following 10 absences (outside of days excused for medical reasons which must have supporting documentation), an attendance meeting usually is arranged between the principal and parent(s). This is the first step toward an eventual legal proceeding in front of a judge should it come down to that. . .which it rarely does, and then only in cases where the student has missed quite a number of days and is doing miserably in classes, as well. In the end, there has to be some method to track students who habitually skip school.

 

[nkosiek]

Teacher and parent here. I think it's a personal decision based on certain factors that Bill listed as well as what someone else stated knowing what the local policies are. If you're kid is constantly messing up/having difficulties understanding material, perhaps a trip to Disney isn't the way to go. If you've got a solid student who won't have a problem missing a few assignments or whatever, and you're not going to be overbearing if they don't have a 90 but an 88 that marking period, go for it.

 

[kniquy]

Teacher and parent here.

Thank you for the teacher perspective!

I couldn't agree more!! I certainly would not reward them with a trip and a couple of missed days of school if they were not holding up their end and doing well in school. I expect my kids to do well in school but certainly am realistic and understand that B's are a great if they are trying hard to get that grade. I am pretty strict when it comes to school, home work and not missing school because of a runny nose. They are kids and I want them to have a memorable childhood and a big part of that is our family trips to Disney!

 

[Geomom]

Our next trip won't be until our boys are 12 and in the 6th grade. We are planning on going during their april vacation but a tuesday to tuesday -- no biggie because they will only be missing 2 days of school. Our other option would be to go around memorial day, same thing tues - tues but they would miss a total of 5 days -- this time of year the points and flights would be a little cheaper, but i am not thrilled with them missing that many days, so we will likely opt for April time.

I am just wonder what everyone's thoughts are about kids missing school to go to Disney -- is it okay for a couple days, is it not acceptable at all, once they reach a certain grade is it a big no-no? Please share your thoughts. I am guessing as they get to jr high and high school it would just be more difficult with sports and with their school work load.

At middle school/high school level, I consider 1-2 days fine, depending on the time of year. If it's around exam times (school or state exams), you can't pull them out. I have a 6th and 10th grader. I had them miss the Tuesday and Wednesday (1/2 day) before Thanksgiving to go to Disney this past November. My 10th grader told all her teachers a week in advance and asked for any homework they could give her in advance. She did some of the work ahead of time (turned it in the MOnday before we left), and some of it at the airport. I did email the 6th grader's teachers myself and I called both kids in absent for Tues/Wed.

I think that as yours is right around a vacation week, you'd be fine.

 

[Sammie]

Parent and former teacher.
I have to agree with JessNewt. It depends on many factors. Sure they are your kids and your call but that could be said also for only feeding them junk food.

I think parents many times over look how the school and teacher see this. That is where I would start. I would hope all parents would be willing to work with the school and support what their guidelines are. Also as stated you have to determine what impact this has on the child after they get back.

Not saying you would do this but did see this recently online, a parent that got upset when he was given the mandatory letter from the school stating taking the child out for family trips during school term was considered non-excused absences. He proceeded to write a letter to the principal that went viral and the first thing he did was insult the school, and most certainly the teacher by saying, they learned more in that week than an entire year in school. Later in the letter he said he loved their school and supported the teachers. Sorry, but you insulted them in the worst way in the beginning the latter is too little, too late.

Believe me if that is true, he needs to find a better school.

I never took mine out of school for trips and me personally would never do it for my convenience. IMO that sends a message to the child that school is not as important as my convenience. If the only time a parent had off the entire year was during the school term, that would be different.

You asked, that is my 2 cents. I will say this though, I have been on these forums for many years and this is one headed question. Because those wanting to take them out, are always going to find reasons to support and justify that and usually when anyone puts up a defense of not doing it, they get very angry.

My thought is if one is not willing to try and see both sides of the situation, don't ask. LOL

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

Age and how well the child is at making up missed work need to go into the decision. I am concerned with anything over 2 days with DD (13 - 7th grade). She is an excellent student, but she struggles to make up the work for anything longer than that. Plus, she has to go in before school for almost every class she misses (4 each day) to make up board work or use books that are only available to her in class, so for every day she missed, the school day gets longer for the next 4 days.

 

[RachaelA]

We plan to pull our kids out until middle school and then we will reevaluate. Our kids will be at a private school who "does not encourage family vacations during the school year, but does understand that they do sometimes happen."

I also think something like a 1 time trip is even less of a deal then pulling them out every year.

 

[jmkjr72]

Only you can tell if it's right for your kids to miss school
No one on here knows them they don't know how they are doing in school and don't know there ability to make things up
We don't know your local laws and school requirements

All through school we took my son nieces and nephew out to go to d8sney in January and February they missed any where from 4 to 6 days depending upon the school schedule
Some years they had lots to work on other years they had hardly anything to work on while on vacation
One year at one of the schools they had a new principal that moved in from out of state and said he wouldn't a prove the absence it took a trip to the school board to educate him on the state law

 

[Murron]

Here we go again.... That being said....I never ever took my kids out of school.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards - not a DVC topic

 

[ktmo]

I am a parent and a teacher. I am pulling my DDs out for two days in May. My oldest DD has had a rough year medical-wise and I want to do something special for her birthday. I want to celebrate her life and that she is here with us.

I am falling into the everyone else is doing it, why shouldn't I? Her teacher took a week to go to Hawaii. A teacher I work with took a week to go to Jamaica. Kids in her class have taken a month to go back to their home country. So, I figure what is two days. I don't think that I will do it once they are in middle school (starting next year).

Oh, and I just purchased a contract and found that it had a surprise 78 points that needed to be used by May 31st and they couldn't be banked. So, I made the above excuses. I probably wouldn't have booked the trip, if it weren't for these points. I had planned on going in June.

 

[here757]

 

[mnrose]

After my kids were in middle school, I stopped having them "miss" school intentionally for vacation. It's too hard to make up assignments. In high school, it's a REALLY bad idea, as you can get NO CREDIT for work you miss and be unable to make it up. Can really affect your grade.

While in elementary school, we did it several times with no problems.