Another pulling your kids out of school thread

[MightyMom]

I have two boys (4, 8). We will be going to WDW in late September.

My husband and I weighed the pros and cons.... and we honestly think this is best for our family..... but I'm really nervous about how the school will handle this isse.

Reason #1: DS (8) has cerebral palsy and during the summer we devote 99% of our time to an intensive therapy program or any medical procedures he might need. We cancelled our trip this past year because it was too hard to go on vacation during the summer.

Reason #2: DS (4) has sensory integration disorder and high crowds can be overwhelming. Summer seems so busy and I thought late Sept might be less crowded and he might enjoy it more.

The school district gives me such a hard time about taking my son to his regular physical therapy appointments each week.... they even threatened me with truancy violations...... I have NO IDEA what they will do when I tell them about this vacation.

BTW...not that it really matters.... but DS8 is an A-B honor roll student. He has many physical issues and uses a wheelchair for mobility to keep up..... but intellectually I don't think he'll fall behind in school if he misses a week.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? If so... how did you handle it? I would appreciate any pointers or suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[Cruz91]

As I always post on threads such as this - no school official, no doctor, and not even any clever DisBoard poster could possibly know as much about you and your family situation as you do. Do whatever it is that you feel is best for your family, and do so without any guilt or fear of repercussion!

Have a great trip!

 

[RachaelRol]

I agree you have to do what is best for your family.

For me, I would no take my son our of school because he has Asthma that is triggered pretty badly upon onset of a cold. He is in first grade now and for the past two years has missed two weeks of both PreK and Kindergarten due to Asthama/colds.

I would not want him to get left back or get into any other trouble because of exceesive absenteeism.

I hate going during the crowds and heat. Last year we went in July, crowded and hot. We didn't do too badly and only had a 20 minute wait at most for anything.

This year we are looking at end of August. maybe free dining? it will still be brutally hot but at least not as crowded.

So if your son isn't out much during the school year, I'd say take the time. Just be careful.

 

[jacobsmom]

DS8 has an artificial cornea (we go to Rochester NY from Wisconsin) so he can see, Cerebreal Hypoplasia (aka he had a stroke while I was pregnant and it affected his cerebellum so he uses a wheel chair and/ or walker to get around). We too get extra therapy through the school year, many doctor appointments that pull him out. Sometimes the school asks where we are going and why and I explain that it's more important to me that DS8 is around positive excited people seeing the world and enjoying great experiences. So often when I add up a day most of it has been spent between therapists and doctors for him and it's important to me that we balance that out once in a while. That's just me.

 

[mickeymouse1017]

I am so sick of hearing about these schools (I am a teacher talking here) that are giving parents a hard time about taking their children out of school for vacations. I am sure that I can speak for a lot of fellow teachers when I say that I dislike having to do make-up work and tests with children when they are out. BUT, I also know that it is just as important that they have family time. I encourage my parents to do things with their children as long as they don't start abusing it and keeping them out of school too often. Please, GO on your trip. If the school wants to report you to the truancy officers, let them and then fight it. As others have said, you know what is best for your family, not them. Have a great time!

 

[sk!mom]

If you were threatened with truancy, I'm assuming that your DS is already missing a great deal of time. In Texas, truancy isn't generally an issue unless a student exceeds 10 days per semester. Medical visits shouldn't count against the 10 days as long as you provide a doctor's excuse.

Public schools often get slammed for frowning on absences but if you choose public school then you choose the rules. That being said, you know what is best for your family.

 

[sukhakuli]

I am shocked that the school has threatened you with truancy over medically necessary therapy! If I were you I would get a lawyer. As a mom of a special little guy (he has autism) it really burns me up to hear that. I'm angry for you! Ridiculous.

It sounds like the school system is a stickler anyway. How is your relationship with your Pediatrician? Maybe he could write you a note saying the trip is medically needed (leave out the Disney World part, lol)? My dh is a Pediatrician, and even so I don't think that is unreasonable. Family time is very important, and I think your reasons for going in September are very valid. Keep in mind, though, that it is very hot in September. Crowds in mid to late January are very low as well, plus the weather is more tolerable.

 

[jessica52877]

In GA you are allowed 5 days all year! It really makes it hard to weigh the options, to me family time is so much more important. We'll be facing this dilemma come September, the trip is booked already but I'll see what I decide.

 

[hematite153]

Another teacher here...

I get irritated when parents expect me to create a package that covers all of the weeks lessons but will take their child less than an hour a day. (I am, however, happy to provide a textbook with chapter references and arrange for them to write tests before leaving or just after returning.)

Otherwise, I tend to think that parents make the decisions that are best for their families. I have had situations where I told the parents that I thought it was a great idea and I wasn't worried about their child missing school. I have also had situations where I told the parents that I didn't think their child could afford to miss school. Generally speaking these situations are differentiated by the intellectual potential of the student.

It sounds like your DS can probably handle the "catch-up" as long as you understand that his grades may dip briefly. (Just don't try telling the school that it's an important educational experience!)

 

[MightyMom]

Medical visits shouldn't count against the 10 days as long as you provide a doctor's excuse.
QUOTE]

I wish it was that easy. There is a loophole that our school district tried, unsuccessfully, to use. According to the Texas Education Code the student is excused for TEMPORARY visits to a health care professional. While physical, occupational and speech therapist ARE healthcare professionals.... according to our school district my son's weekly appointments are not temporary.

The only school time he misses is on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for his therapy visits..... therapy that the school does NOT provide. DS is 8 years old and uses a wheelchair... yet has NOT qualified for physical therapy services through our school district. Go figure.

I fought the school district at the beginning of the school year. It was tough.... but ultimately I don't think the school district wanted the negative publicity. They backed down because they knew I wasn't being unreasonable. I will do anything and everything to insure my son gets the very best academically and medically.

But I agree that I should try to follow the schools rules since I have no other option but to send him there..... not many private schools line up to take on a special needs child.

 

[kylieh]

...not many private schools line up to take on a special needs child.

I normally post in the DL forums, but often read the families thread.

OK - I know it's a different legal juristriction, but a few years back a family applied to a private school for their daughter who needed assistance to walk/sometimes wheelchair. The school rejected her based upon her "physical disabilities" and not being able to cope. To cut a long story short, Parents hire lawyers, parents win under Australia's Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination laws. School liabile for all costs including making class rooms wheelchair accessible because it could be clearly shown they were discriminating based on her physical needs.

Back on topic with some random thoughts...

At the orientation to my daughter's school last year the principal encouraged "within reason" family holidays (refering more to overseas). She said they will learn more on holiday about human nature and the world around them then at school. They would let us know what chapter(s) in text books to work on. A news report to the class when they return. And I fully agree.

Being an adult educator by "trade" , I'm sure that most teachers would have a rough idea of the cirriculum and objectives somewhat in advance, ie not dertimed on the day. If they are truely worried about what he would learn in that period could you personally take responsibility for those objectives?

I read once that some US schools get funding based on attendance. Is that one of your school's issues? How much do they get a day? If that is their problem for your 8 year old, could you fund to them some of the days???

PS - My DD is 5 and starts school in a few weeks - the Australian school year is February to Mid-December, with holidays between generally April, July, October.

 

[liznboys]

I agree that the bottom line is that you have to do what you feel is best for your family. Go with your gut.

We have pulled ours, did this past October (my older two are in 2nd and K). And although we've never been given a hard time, I am given the clear impression that the teachers would rather we didn't. Makes sense. So more and more I lean towards not pulling them because whether or not the teachers/school say "no", it just stresses me out!! And that doesn't make for a nice vacation. When we went last August, it was SO nice not having the school issue looming over our heads....it was really a relief.

I'm not sure if we'll pull them in the future. Maybe only if it's for 2-3 days...I don't know. It's such a tricky thing! Good luck!

 

[mom2allison01]

We pulled our dd out of school in December for a week long trip (she is in Kindergarten). Another Dismember gave me a great website which has a ton of school worksheets with a disney theme and a school excuse letter template. If you are interested you can PM and I can pass along the website. Good luck with your decision, I know it was stressful for me thinking about pulling her from school. But as PP have said, no one knows your family and the best interests of your family like you do!

ETA: We focused much of our trip on learning (Epcot can provide a great educational and fun experience, especially if you go into each thing with learning in mind). Because of this, as a family we all learned some great stuff!

 

[rt2dz]

TX law states that a child must be in school 80 days per semester, and that means that it can vary from semester to semester in how much school a child in various districts can miss. Anything medically needed will count to that 80 days, but with documentation, it is not supposed to count against the child (or you for truancy laws). Temporary or not. And I’m sure you have medical documentation. Plus, your district should only take attendance once a day for “official” attendance, and if you pull your child out after that time, it shouldn’t count as an absence at all.

It sounds as though you do NEED to take a low-crowd level vacation time. Personally, I would do it. OK—we don’t have those issues and I still pull my kids out without hesitation. If the school tries to battle you on it and take you to court, I’m sure your doctors can support you in that you can’t go during normal break time.

 

[Darcy03231]

One thing you might want to check into before you go is how many unexcused days your child can have and still pass the grade. Where I live if there are more than 10 unexcused days out of school, no matter what your child's grade is, they are not allowed to go on and have to repeat the year. Also, teachers don't have to give/accept make-up work and the child gets zeros on anything missed. I know from other peoples posts on this subject every state/school district is different, just something you might want to check into.

When my kids were in elementary school our district didn't have this policy and I took them out once for a week to go to WDW without any issues at all.

 

[kcromley]

just a thought to consider-if you are comfortable doing so, you could provide written notice to the school stating the date of your intended absence and citing the district policy on excused absence for religious observance and travel related thereto (each district in Texas has one). the school can not question you regarding that notice; your beliefs are personal and your observance thereof is excused. not everyone would feel okay doing so, but just an option to consider in your stressful situation.

 

[kinntj]

We're taking our kids out of school possibly in May. The first thing I did was email her teacher if that was possible. Her teacher said "Go for it!" "and by the way can I come?". That was funny, but she said she was going the week after she gets out of school. If you talk to the school and explain the situation, I would be shocked if you had a problem.

My DD5 has missed 5 days of school already due to the flu and she's allowed so much each semester. It's pretty risky to take them out during the school year, but it'll be worth it.

Good luck!

 

[Bugsmom73]

We will probably take them out again this September. DD will be in 2nd grade and DS in pre-K. We get 5 excused days, with persmission for vacation, a few rules, llike not before at the end of semester etc. DD missed kindy and it was fine.

 

[hematite153]

Another Dismember gave me a great website which has a ton of school worksheets with a disney theme and a school excuse letter template.

If this is the letter I've seen before, I'd advise you to be careful with it.

If you try to tell the school that wdw is an important educational experience you will get their backs up.

If you ask the school to be responsible for too much of the planning work for your vacation (i.e. preparing booklets and worksheets) then you will irritate the teachers.

If you suggest that your kids will spend an hour on homework everyday in order to keep up with the class you are insulting the teacher.

If you say that your kids will spend as much time working on learning while they are on vacation the school will assume that you are lying.

It is much better to have your letter (if you write one) say that you understand how hard the school works to educate your DS and that you realize he will miss specially prepared lessons that the teacher will be unable to repeat for him. Acknowledge that it is likely your DS will miss some important lessons and that his grades may drop briefly. Then, instead of asking the teacher to put together lessons, indicate your own willingness to work through some textbooks with him before, during and after your vacation in order to help him catch up. You might even arrange with a parent of another child in the class to keep records about what he misses.

In other words, if you ask school personnel to do extra work for free so that you can go on vacation and insult them by implying that the vacation is more important than education, they are likely to respond negatively. If you tell them that you value everything that they do for you they are more likely to respond positively.

Of course, if they've threatened to charge you with truancy for medically necessary therapy, then you may run into trouble regardless.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

We pulled our dd out of school in December for a week long trip (she is in Kindergarten). Another Dismember gave me a great website which has a ton of school worksheets with a disney theme and a school excuse letter template. If you are interested you can PM and I can pass along the website. Good luck with your decision, I know it was stressful for me thinking about pulling her from school. But as PP have said, no one knows your family and the best interests of your family like you do!

ETA: We focused much of our trip on learning (Epcot can provide a great educational and fun experience, especially if you go into each thing with learning in mind). Because of this, as a family we all learned some great stuff!

Do you have that website? I'd love to bookmark it and save it for my November trip! DS will miss 3 or 4 days of school leading to Thanksgiving.