Don't care if it makes me a bad parent!

[ronandannette]

This must only be a states thing. We have never had problems taking our kids out of school. we took dd15 out of school for 3 weeks in grade 2 and 6 and then for 2 weeks in grade 9 and a week and a half in grade 10 and she'll be out for another week in grade 11. All we've ever had to do was write a note to her teacher (elementary school) or fill out an extended absence form (high school). There's never been any problems with us doing so. Good for you for doing it! I agree with the other poster your kids will remember this more than they'll remember what they learned at school that week. I hope you guys have an amazing trip!

Some districts only allow a certain number of unexcused absences so if the OP exceeds them she may have issues. I dont know if they would go as far as going to court, but I'm not sure how tough her district is on that kind of thing. We are allowed 5 in one year, so if we went to WDW for 10 days we'd exceed that.

Lots of American school districts fund on a per-capita basis and I think attendance levels (not just enrollments) are part of the formula. Here it is different as our schools are funded on a "program" basis (how much it costs to provide whatever programs and services are necessary requirements under provincial cirriculum).

 

[smorkovsky]

True story. Funding is based on attendance. Kids are awarded for attendance as though it is the HIGHEST form of what matters. It isn't, but the schools get funding that way, which is why I'll likely be pulled into truancy court over it. This particular district is super strict, and truancy issues start at 5 unexcused....10 and they "say" they'll hold your child back a grade. I doubt that, but it's the threat they make.

 

[02AggieGirl]

I don't about that, but maybe it's true. I've always only ever lived here. I do know they will likely take me to truancy court for 5 unexcused for both kids, though. Maybe not, if I plan ahead, and the school knows what is going on, etc. It typically depends on the district. I know our last district would have been fine if I planned ahead and notified all the teachers, etc. (which, of course, I will do), but the place we are now, is VERY strict about it, so I know it is going to be HIGHLY frowned upon. I don't care. The memories we will make will be worth whatever the school wants to dish out on me, and I'm sure their teachers will be understanding....I have smart kiddos, anyway, so a week of elementary school isn't going to do some lasting damage.

I live in Texas and have taken my kids out of school for a week every school year. We've never had a problem since my kids haven't ever had more than 17 absences. I don't know about differences in school district rules though. Have a great trip!!

 

[Kat016]

I'm taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for an entire week for a WDW trip! And while the school district may frown upon this, and take me to truancy court (because I will NOT lie about why I'm taking them out of school) some things are more important than school. And this will likely be a trip of a lifetime for my kids, so truancy court be damned! We can't afford peak season, and even if we could, there's no way massive crowds will make a trip anything but hell for us. We HATE crowds. HATE.THEM.

Flame away.

Ill be taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for a week too the end of October. I did it in March of 2012 as well. And it was the tale end of PSSA testing. So the principal worked with my daughter to make up the 1 test she was going to miss. All I had to do was fill out a form telling them where we're going and what's educational about it. Its Disney....self explanatory. But I did get told by my best friend that there's a letter online stating the obvious about disney for school districts but I haven't tried to find it yet. So if your a bad parent, I am too lol

 

[Haley/Hayden Mom]

Our girls missed the last week of school this past year. The administration was great about it too. Oldest DD was given special permission to take her exams early (all on the same day, so lots of studying). We will be going again in November to run the jingle jungle 5K and have already gotten these days approved too. Both their schools are doing a penny drive to raise money for the leukemia and lymphoma society of America (the charity for the run) and I am providing a pizza party for the winning classes.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I'm taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for an entire week for a WDW trip! And while the school district may frown upon this, and take me to truancy court (because I will NOT lie about why I'm taking them out of school) some things are more important than school. And this will likely be a trip of a lifetime for my kids, so truancy court be damned! We can't afford peak season, and even if we could, there's no way massive crowds will make a trip anything but hell for us. We HATE crowds. HATE.THEM.

Flame away.

No skin off my nose....however, you'll find more parents feel this way towards taking their kids out of school, so you'll find there really ISN'T an "uncrowded" time of year any more. Shoot, if I had any complaint about parents taking their kids out of school, it wouldn't be about them missing school, but for them making it more crowded for those who go without their kids, thinking it'll be a quiet time. We just went last week, which I'll never do again....I really didn't find it more crowded than when we've gone in October or December, but the freaking HOT wore me out. We never would have gone in July anyways because of the heat, but the puppy breeder we chose for our new family member lives in FL, so we decided since it was my birthday week and we had to go to FL anyway (we had to drive our pup back, couldn't fly because he was too big) we'd go to the world. You just can't plan too far ahead any more for a guaranteed "uncrowded" time. We tried the 2nd week of December two years ago. Our reasoning was it was too close to Christmas break and finals for parents to be pulling their kids out, and too early for them to pull them out to extend their Christmas break. WRONG. It was just as crowded as any other time we went...though admittedly not as crowded as it will ever be the week between Christmas/New Years and Spring break season.

 

[Planogirl]

Those form letters are silly. Just my opinion.

We also lived in a strict district and chose not to take DS out of school for lengthy periods. It seemed unnecessary since late summer worked well for us. However I've always believed that if you wish to go during school time then simply just do it. Don't expect the school to bend over backwards to accommodate you however but just let them know and have a nice time.

 

[Infamousmare]

What? Spending quality time with your kids makes you a BAD parent? Not in my book!

I homeschool my kids and sometimes I get flak because we go to WDW in September most years - all the kids are back in school and it's not crowded. My kids have lessons year-round so that we have the flexibility to travel/take field trips at the times that work best for us.

It's nobody's business what you do with your kids. While I get that the school system doesn't want their routine disrupted, as long as your'e not doing this on a monthly basis (and if you are, can I come, too?), you oughtn't answer to anyone! Well, except God. (My priest would want me to say that...)

 

[babydoll65]

I will be pulling my ds out for four days in November and don't care what the school dept thinks about it either. I'm actually taking the first two weeks out in November and using the first week for him to stay after school each day to get ahead. The good thing is the first quarter ends on Friday November 8th so he will just be starting the 2nd quarter so there's plenty of time for him to make up anything. A couple of years ago I had the school secretary make me feel horrible about the fact I was pulling him out for a vacation. She stated "VACATIONS NEED TO BE DONE ON YOUR TIME,NOT OURS" my words to her were, the last time I checked, my taxes pay your paycheck and I don't have to answer to you or anyone else for that matter. I only have one child and he's only going to be a kid for so long before he might not want to hang with his mom on vacation. So I'm not going to let some school secretary tell me about priorities. If been to Disney world in the summer,but only once. I will never do it again. I felt like I just wasted all my money and was miserable from the heat and the crowds. Now I only go in October or November.

And just so you know, my son is sixteen years old and will be a junior in high school and so far still is looking forward to hanging with his mom,grandmother and all the disney characters.

 

[DISzy]

I live in Texas. We take out kids out of school for a week every year to go to Disney. Our teAchers and admin have always been nice about it, even though the attendance office has to send us a warning letter.

 

[andee515]

We always take our kids out, so we don't have to contend ith the crazy crowds. This year we are oing Oct 31- Nov 10. I always let the teachers know in August at the meet the teachers night to give them time to give me feedback on how they would like us to handle it. We hae never had problems at our school.... My oldest. Starts jr high this year, so hopefully that. Won't change

 

[White Rose]

Not a flame.. Here is my experience and toughts....

My parents would never have dreamed of taking me out of school, or my brother. We both went to mentally gifted high schools (5 years apart, mind you!) and our education there was a big big deal in my family.

My parents never went to college, and my oldest aunt never graduated high school. (actually she did get her GED in her 60's!) The first person in my family to attend college was my oldest cousin.

In the school I attended...If you fail 3 classes, you are expelled. If you fail 2 classes twice anytime during your 4 years, you are expelled. If you have any behavior issues, you are expelled. NO exceptions; summer school does not count to erase those failures. Half the kids who start leave or fail out before they graduate. Most teachers there are doctors and could teach at any college.

It was a FREE 'magnet' school, not a boarding school, no tuition. (if you lived inside the Philly city limits.) Failure would have meant going to local public schools.

I graduated in the top 10% of my class....so did my brother. We both got partial scholarships to PA colleges...Being out of school for a cold meant lots of make-up time. I could not imagine my folks taking us out of school on purpose. (I had mono in my sophmore year...ugh it was bad!)

My brother and I are doing very well for ourselves...because of the amazing FREE education we received at a FREE puiblic high school, which prepared me for college and life.

It's your kid's education. You know your kids and you know what they need better then anyone.

My parents could not have home-schooled me, or helped me with homework, so my only way to get proper instruction was with my teachers. I'm not a parent and have no right to make suggestions and, your decision is what matters.

Just playing devil's advocate.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I'm taking my 3rd and 5th graders out of school for an entire week for a WDW trip! And while the school district may frown upon this, and take me to truancy court (because I will NOT lie about why I'm taking them out of school) some things are more important than school. And this will likely be a trip of a lifetime for my kids, so truancy court be damned! We can't afford peak season, and even if we could, there's no way massive crowds will make a trip anything but hell for us. We HATE crowds. HATE.THEM.

Flame away.

Not HERE!.GOOD FOR YOU!

It about time we all take our kids back from the school systems, many of which have got this idea they are in charge!

NOT!

We the Parents are in charge!

AKK

 

[Sandysbuddy]

We are also pulling our three kids (2nd, 3rd and 6th grade) out of school for a week. We are going the week after Thanksgiving. We could wait two weeks and go over Christmas, but we do not want to spend more money to have to deal with huge crowds!

We also took them out for a week 2 years ago to celebrate DH being home from a years deployment. The teachers and principal were more than supportive and were glad to help us keep it a secret.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[crxrocks]

We are taking our kids out of school but they are homeschooled. They can do math on the flight.

 

[Planogirl]

Not HERE!.GOOD FOR YOU!

It about time we all take our kids back from the school systems, many of which have got this idea they are in charge!

NOT!

We the Parents are in charge!

AKK

To me there's a fine line here. We are definitely in charge of our kids but the school districts are in charge of the schools and have the right to make whatever rules they see fit. We can always go to private schools or homeschool or move to another district of course but we can't really dictate a district's rules beyond a certain point.

 

[smorkovsky]

Those form letters are silly. Just my opinion.

We also lived in a strict district and chose not to take DS out of school for lengthy periods. It seemed unnecessary since late summer worked well for us. However I've always believed that if you wish to go during school time then simply just do it. Don't expect the school to bend over backwards to accommodate you however but just let them know and have a nice time.

Same school district

 

[larryz]

On another note - go forth and have a great time

Or go Fourth and have a terrible time...

Really, OP, do what you want. This has become such an inconsequential topic here that nobody bothers to flame the parents any more.

These threads don't usually go downhill until someone brings up the value of teachers' assignments and spending time in school versus the "educational" value of a trip to Walt Disney World, anyway.

We homeschooled, so why would we care (other than the additional crowds all you "rule-breakers" add to the parks!)?

 

[vatmark]

We took our kids out once when they were in elementary school and it was no problem. Now that they are in high school I can't imagine then missing a full week. Missing a full week of 3 AP classes and an honors pre calculus class would be too much and too stressful for my daughter. She doesn't even want to stay home and miss a day when she doesn't feel well.

Ann

 

[kansasdisneygal]

As a teacher, I say take them! They are young enough that homework shouldn't be horrible. But do get what they will miss and maybe they can work on it during your travel time. I am sure you already planned on that though! Enjoy!!