Excused time off from school

[Evil Queen]

We are going in Sept. 05. Meaning the DS (who will be 9 and in 4th grade) will miss 5 school days. We live in Florida.

I have read a few threads that suggest that this could be "excused" for educational purposes. I had this done in 9th grade going to Ireland for a trip I won (but my Dad handled that and he can't remember now how).

Does anyone know how to start this? Meaning getting any forms from the school board and how to list this as an educational trip? I don't want to draw attenton to his being gone, if it's not possible.

He's a great student and missing 5 days would probaly NOT hurt him, but just to be on the safe side.

Thanks!!

 

[debbiedoo]

I spoke with the teacher directly a month and a half before our trip. I did not want any surprises. We had to bring a journal. We did a picture journal. I would not wait until the last minute on this one. Start by talking with the teacher.

Then I had to write a letter and the educational part of the trip and then approval from principal. This took about a week. it was a big weight off my chest.

good luck

 

[Micca]

We took our DDs out of school for Disney trips 5 or 6 times in their K-12 careers. Perhaps it's more complicated in Fla., but here I believe all we did was to write a note and had an informal chat with their teachers.

 

[Okiemom]

In our High Schools, absents count no matter if its excused. You can only have up to 9 in any one class in that semester, or you will not receive credit for that class. I can sign them out as a parent, but it still counts . Only a medical note from Doctor, is one that does not count towards the 9. It really sounds like plenty of days, but 3 tardies count as a absent, so for one of my kids, it is not possible to pull them out for a week, they tend to have a few tardies.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I've seen this around the DIS for years - usually on the dear, departed Debate Board. IIRC, there were two main points: It's not as easy as it used to be to pull children out of school, particularly as they get older, and it depends quite a bit on the district, principal and teacher, so start the dialog now.

 

[Evil Queen]

Thanks. I pulled him out for 2 days last year, no harm. Like I said he will be in 4th grade, dreaded FCAT's will be over (so let's hope he's in 4th grade ).

I already told him- come middle school, these trips will probably move to times he and I both can go (hard but possible).

Most of his teacher's have been ok, until this year, reason a trip wasn't planned.

He loves going to school, so unless a bad illness happens next year, those 5 days will be the only he misses during that grading time.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

In our High Schools, absents count no matter if its excused. You can only have up to 9 in any one class in that semester, or you will not receive credit for that class. I can sign them out as a parent, but it still counts . Only a medical note from Doctor, is one that does not count towards the 9. It really sounds like plenty of days, but 3 tardies count as a absent, so for one of my kids, it is not possible to pull them out for a week, they tend to have a few tardies.

Here in Lee County FL a medical note will allow it to be excused, but it still counts towards the 9 per semester. If you are a good student and your excused absences exceed the limit, you may go before a committe & fight them, but if you are failing to begin with, you don't stand a chance. In elementary & middle they aren't as strict as high school. I do the attendence in an elementary school, and you as a parent may send in a note "asking" for the absence to be excused, but it is up to the school to decide if it will be. Basically any out of towns, unless for a death or illness of a family member, will not be excused. Any absence due to being sick 3 days or more requires a doctors note to be excused. In other words, you cannot go to Disney for 4 days & then write a note saying your child was sick..... you will need the doctors note. Talking with the teacher may get you your childs work to make up, however that absence is still unexcused. Also, as an unexcused absence, the teacher doesn't have to give you the work for them to make it up, they can just give them a 0 for the missed work (most teachers do allow make ups, except high school teachers). I am not saying not to take your child out, I have done it many times, but I know they are unexcused... I just watch the total days.... Just this past December my daughter rec'd an unexcused... she missed 2 days for Disney.

 

[Evil Queen]

Thanks for the info.

I thought, at least in Palm Beach (not sure only thought) they could request a doctor's note for extended illnesses, not mandatory.

I have been a study hound here lately over dress code issues (all for them, but not the mandatory of shirts- don't agree only 3-5 of a hundred different colors make a school safe-but that's a different subject-sorry..... but only preferred for shorts, etc) and scanned ONLY attendance. But saw nothing on educational trips.

Will just hope he doesn't get any major illnesses (he knows what he is up against). Would not send him for attended days issues if he could give something to others, but a sinus headache would probably not get him out of school, where this year, I would think about it. Him and I both suffer bad bouts of sinus/ allergy problems. We would prefer to be at home, but could skate by a day of school or work.

 

[Okiemom]

Don't want to get side-track, but I do see both sides of being strict on attendance. But last year, I could never get my child well, because I would finally get her well and send her back to school. Then she would be sick again. From Nov - March it was sick, well, sick, well. You have to have a Doctors note for each day they were out to get it counted as medical. So I was back and forth a bunch. Well, one time I was talking to attendance lady, and a child was next to me that was obviously sick and should not be there!! He said he did not want to miss any days, so he could get excused from a final for the sememster!!! He was coughing, said he had fever. I told the attendance lady, this is why I can not keep my child well. So, I am a big believer for attendance, but man it sometimes keeps the sick ones there!!

 

[Brendita]

Every year we take a vacation my son has to be excused from school.
With my job summer is are busy season so vacations aren't allowed in the summer.
I always let his teachers know well in advance the dates.
Some have send homework assignment some haven't.
One teacher told him promise me 1 thing (have fun).
Never had a problem getting excused from school.

 

[Evil Queen]

Thanks! No he doesn't go when he has something to give to others. We have been lucky most times (well, I have) he usually gets sick going into the weekend, so he has a couple extra days of recoup time. Like I said we battle sinus and allergy problems, and normally we will take a day off just to take our meds and rest (if they are bothersome), but we probably could make it through the day, would just be dragging. We don't miss just because our nose or eyes are itching, take our meds and go, but sometimes those headaches and low grade fevers will tell me to rest.

So, I will just hope he stays well the almost 2 months before vaca and then the remaining time after return.

I will address the teacher early next school year and kick it around about the trip. Hopefully, they will give him work to do (he could do this the couple of days before we go and the weekend we are back). I will just set aside extra time next year (more than what we have now) to study and hope that helps.
He's a good student so that will help, but I know it won't make up the difference.

I appreciate everyone's input.......thanks

 

[Evil Queen]

Don't want to get side-track, but I do see both sides of being strict on attendance. But last year, I could never get my child well, because I would finally get her well and send her back to school. Then she would be sick again. From Nov - March it was sick, well, sick, well. You have to have a Doctors note for each day they were out to get it counted as medical. So I was back and forth a bunch. Well, one time I was talking to attendance lady, and a child was next to me that was obviously sick and should not be there!! He said he did not want to miss any days, so he could get excused from a final for the sememster!!! He was coughing, said he had fever. I told the attendance lady, this is why I can not keep my child well. So, I am a big believer for attendance, but man it sometimes keeps the sick ones there!!

On a side note, I hope your child is doing better now.

When my DS first starting school, he was ALWAYS sick and out. Strep throat over and over. They would give him 10 days worth of meds, would help for a bit, but he would get it all over again. They finally gave him 30 days worth of anti-biotics and no problems since (other than normal colds, etc, and our sinus/allergy problems). I feel for ya, that is ROUGH!!

My best to you!