Do you take your kids out of school to go??

[drivencrazy]

We are going in May and taking our kids out of school... they don't really want to miss school, but would rather go to Disney than not... my husband can only get vacation in months that are slow and nobody else has it... this year it happened to be May that was best for him. So they will miss 5 days, grades 3 and 6. Our 4 year old is missing 2 days of preschool... They would rather not miss, but know that if they don't miss, we wouldn't be able to go this year............. so they say it's ok to miss. We have talked to their teachers and they say that it's not a problem (our kids never miss school That being said watch them get sick). But I think that what ever works for the family is what is best... No rights or wrongs, just gotta do what you've gotta do!!

 

[loopner67]

We take our kids out of school. Ironically, just today I was filling out the paperwork to get permission for this "non school extended trip". I've never had them deny us (this will be my oldest DS 3rd time missing school since K for Disney). When it says "educational reasons" for the trip, it's easy to say that they'll be doing educational things in Disney because they do.

What we do is first talk to the teacher way in advance about the trip. Bring her/him on board to the fact that the child will miss X amount of days. We're sure to not go when there is state testing. Our children also don't miss a lot of school for anything else (one of my sons hasn't missed a day yet this year because he hasn't been sick & the other has only missed 2 days). Then, we apply whatever they are doing in school to the trip.

For instance... My Kindergartener will be looking for "sight words" on the trip - could be in the airport, on the plane, at the hotel, at the parks, etc... He'll write about what words he sees and where. We'll apply any math concepts to what we're doing - he's doing simple stuff with money right now and 3D shapes.

My 3rd grader is learning about other countries in social studies, so we'll be doing some research on one of the Epcot pavilions (he hasn't chosen which one yet). We'll do internet research BEFORE we go, then take pictures at the park. He'll then write about what he saw & what he learned. He'll also be applying math concepts - fractions, elapsed time, multiplication, etc... Then, he needs to write in his journal pages about what he's seen - creative writing stuff using proper grammar and good sentence structure.

Sure, is this more work for us, yes it is. Is this more work for me, at the mom, to be sure the work gets done, yes it is. Does this make our trip more interesting in some ways to see what we can apply to our trip from what they are learning, yes it does make it more interesting. My boys seem to actually enjoy it.

 

[loopner67]

Every year.
***I'm a teacher, so I pull myself out of school as well.

You rock on with yourself!

 

[Starr W.]

We take the boys out the 2 days before Thanksgiving break and 1 day in May. Our district starts letting you know about State test days the first day of school and reminds you ever newsletter. May trips is a treat for the eldest who has 4th grade tests this year.

In Ohio, they use a week in October and a week in Febuary to do "official" attendance for state funding. Our district is very good in telling you these things if you ask. Got 2008 spring break dates before the "official" schedule was out just by asking.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

We took our kids out of school last time for around 21days in 2005. The school never gave us a hassle and in fact insisted that we have a good time. We are going again this year and going to gone for about the same amount of time again and I'm sure that it's not a problem. The story would be different if my kids didn't do well in school, but they arethe oppisite; they are "A" students. They deserve a break.

 

[zdesiree]

Well let me tell you that this year will be the first one I'll be pulling my kids out of school for Disney and is for two weeks. When we went in 2005, they were in homeschooling, but now they're not. I'm really hoping I won't have any problems with the teacher, because what I'm planning to do is to see if they can give me the material they will cover those two weeks. I know that the second week they will give tests, but they always schedule a reposition day like 4 days later and we will be back already.

In my case is not only because of the crowds, is a money thing too. We are a family of 5 and if I want to make Disney possible it has to be in low season.

So good luck to all of us!!!

 

[jiminy]

Our oldest is in Kindergarten and we'll take him out for one day (we're going during spring break so we only need that one day to drive). I'm not sure what we will do when he gets older.

 

[Darcy03231]

Just make sure you check your school district's policy on unexcused absences. Since No Child Left Behind a lot of school districts have implemented some really tough policies. In our district its completely up to the teacher if he/she wants to allow your child to make up the work. If they don't your child gets zeros on everything missed. If you have more than 5 unexcused absences you may get a visit from the truancy officer and face the possibility of court action. I did take my kids out when they were in elementary school (and before No Child Left Behind) and never had an issue with the teachers/school. Now, my children are in middle and high school and I couldn't take them out because we have block scheduling. For every day they miss its more like missing two days. They cover so much material it would put them too far behind.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

We are going for the second time in 08, we were originally thinking the last week of June because they will be out of school. But I am not sure how nice of a vacation extreme heat and crowds will bring, so I think as long as dh can take time off from work in early may, we will be going then!!!!!

 

[BeckyR]

We will be taking my son out of preschool for 2 days this month to go. I dont see any issue with it until they get to higher grades

 

[dadof2]

We have taken dd7 for three days the week following Thanksgiving in the past, this year we are taking DD8 out of school for the entire week following Thanksgiving.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

DS is 12 and in 7th grade. He missed one day of school in January for WDW. We stretched out a three day weekend by leaving immediately after school on Thursday. He missed Friday and Monday was an in service day. We flew back very late Monday night.

When he was in elementary school he missed at least one week (and sometimes two) a year for vacations. It was easy then, as the work and instruction he missed could be easily made up. When he went to middle school his course work became more difficult and we decided to minimize the amount of time we take him out of school. That one day in January is the only day he's missed for any reason this year.

 

[leanan]

I have done it once with my daughter. However when I was a child in first grade my parents did take me and my brother out for a week before winter break started. Well we were checking out of our hotel and my brother's teacher was checking in. Can we say BUSTED! I am not sure what they were planning to tell our school about our missing class but clearly it was no longer going to be they were sick.

Later on in life my mom was notorious for telling the school my brothers had the flu and I had an ear infection when we missed a day or so for work conventions for my dad. I always got an ear infection from the pool and/or ocean water so she was never lying about me as far as the school was concerned.

 

[Starr W.]

I really think it depends on your districts "view" of this. We live in a upper middle class district and I think you might be in the minority if you don't pull your kids for at least a couple of days. The schools are like ghost towns the last day before Xmas break, usually a good chunk of my 4th graders class is usually gone.


This school year was the first we had done it, though would have liked to sooner, but DM had cancer and passed away, getting through her estate(don't ask my views on estate taxes) and getting my sister through building a condo, selling the old house, moving and getting her use to life without my mom took quite a few years.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I really think it depends on your districts "view" of this. We live in a upper middle class district and I think you might be in the minority if you don't pull your kids for at least a couple of days.

I don't think affluence has anything to do with a school district's view on vacations during the school year. I live in one of the wealthiest counties in the nation (and am one of its poorer residents!), and my son's one day missed for WDW this year was unexcused. You vacation at your own risk. His elementary school principals didn't care but his middle school one sure does. I anticipate that it will be even harder as he ages because the schools here are extremely competitive and pride themselves on rigorous academics. Heck, everyone goes to college and they limit school visits to just a handful; anything more is unexcused as well.

 

[Arvandor_Ilfirin]

When I was younger, my Mother and Father took me out of school all the time for going to Disney! The best part was that they kept it secret until the day we were going, and then woke me up early-- saying school starts just a few hours sooner today, but then driving us to the airport!
It was just so magical to wake up for another day at school, and then a few hours later have breakfast with Mickey!

I think it's perfectly alright if they're younger...But as you get older, I have to agree that it not only gets more difficult, but puts more stress on your kids academically.

 

[weeluvdisney]

We will be taking them out for 6 days in May. Life is to short to wait for things that are important to us. YES of course school is very important too. When push comes to shove as the parents we have the final say of how we raise our children.

I agree with Hollyb. We take our kids out of school. They make up the work. The teachers at our school are understanding.We need all teachers approval and we always get it. We don't take them out for more then 5 days though. A family vacation is very important..... lots of fun and also a learning experience in itself in many ways.

 

[MiniGirl]

My oldest is in 1st grade and my youngest starts K next year, so they are still young; but, yes, I have taken them out of school for WDW. We live pretty close though, so we make lots of small trips. My oldest has never missed more than 1 1/2 days at a time.

 

[chb]

When my kids were in public school we did take them out. We homeschool now so we never have a problem with the teacher.

Kristen

That's us too! We're currently planning another September vacation. They just can't be beat!

 

[bksab]

Yup. My dd11 will be missing a week when we go in May. I am not worried about it. She is an excellent student. If she were having trouble we might reconsider. I told her teacher I would be happy to do any extra work required myself. Such as making copies or whatever. Usually the school just requires a journal and report though.

I can't wait!!

Kara