Has anyone pulled kids out of school for FD?

[mill4023]

We've done it before, but not recently.
The public schools in NC are extremely militant about attendance. Even for excused absences for illness or doctor's visits, we've gotten letters every year for at least 2 of our 4 school age children threatening to hold them back a year because they missed too many days (like 6).

Yeah, that makes sense. Threaten to make my 14 year old repeat a grade due to attendance. That would be great idea for a girl who gets straight A's, scores on the 97th percentile on standardized tests, and took the SAT in 7th grade, scoring better than the average for 11th graders.

It's ridiculous that they don't take anything else into consideration, but it's all about the money they lose when a student isn't in the seat.

If they ever actually followed through and tried to hold her back, we'd be homeschooling the next day.

The main reason I won't do it now is that my 16 yr old son(who is just as smart, but way less motivated than our girls) already does just barely enough to pass his classes. My focus right now is making sure he graduates HS, so I don't want to do anything that would make it more difficult.

But if your kids are doing well in school and can make up the work, especially in the pre-high school years, I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I book 11 months out as well and decided to go in Oct this year. Low and behold they just released a "new" partial balanced school calender in our area and they are off the entire week that I had booked!! However, I took them out of school last Dec and would not hesitate to pull them again as long as grades are good and it is not a critical testing time. My dh works many hours and my dd's don't see much of him Mon-Fri and he travels a bit so our family vacation time is very important to us.
We have lots of fun and it is very easy to throw in some education at WDW.

My daughter's school is going to the same schedule starting 2012-2013 in Indiana. We were mulling a trip that week as well. I wonder if we're close to each other...I'd rather go the week of Labor Day as we have in the past. I'm much more on board with dd missing school then dh is though.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We did it last year, because FD ended a few days before DD's school vacation week, so we took her out of school the last 2 days of the week before vacation in order to get our free dining. The school wasn't happy, but my wallet was (and DD is an excellent student!!!), she didn't miss a beat.

 

[4winks]

Here is my 2 cents from a teacher/mother point of view. As a mom I think that a family vacation is extremely valuable. I have not hesitated to take my kids out of school for a Disney vacation - although we only do it only every 3-4 years. As a teacher I feel that it is ok to occasionaly take kids out of school if 1. Your child is doing well in school and has the ability to catch up, and 2. the parents are going to make the effort to make sure the child is caught up on their assignments and understands the concepts that they missed.

I had a student that failed 2 subjects for a grading period this fall because he went to Disney and didn't turn in any of the assignments for the week and couldn't catch up. All the work was given to him prior to the trip. It was very frustrating on my end becasue I did all the extra work to get the work to him that the parents asked for then they never followed through.

 

[wuzzy6]

We've never pulled the kids for a lengthy vacation, but I'm not against it, either. You know yourself and your kids better than anyone, and as long as you're all motivated to work together to make sure everything gets done, then go for it!!!

 

[wuzzy6]

Double post - sorry!!!

 

[MissAndrea]

I know there are always a lot of opinions on this. You have to do what you think is ok...you know your kids. We have, however, taken our DD out in 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade. The first two were in May...no FD. The last one was just this past Sept for FD. I was worried because we'd moved to a new state and I was concerned about how they'd react. We had absolutely no issues are her previous elementary. Turns out I worried for no reason because they were fine with it at this school too! We are doing it again this coming Sept when she's in 6th grade because we want to go back to MNSSHP! This MIGHT be our last year since the work will get harder each year. But I also said 5th grade would be our last year.

 

[Tinker12]

We pull our children out every year. We need a family vacation together and the only time that we can go is during a school year due to my job. It's unfortunate, but it works for my family. Does it work for the school? No. They are very strick with attendance, but I have no issue calling them out. My children are 8 and 10 and they do very well in school. Also, my husband is a teacher and we ensure that everything is taken care of before we leave to Disney. My DH writes a letter to the principal every year to try to get at least 4 days excused. If they do, great. If not, what will they do. Of course, the school district gets paid when kids are in school. so, that's the reason why they are really pushing it.

 

[adhelove]

As a parent, the answer is yes. If you are wanting to spend family time together that is what counts. I do not let the school calendar dictate my family life. We usually go in the off season because it is so much cheaper and less crowds. We tell our teachers and the school about two weeks ahead of time so that they will have plenty of time to get their makeup work together. We usually do most of ours on the way to Orlando in the car. That way it is done before the tired, long trip home. Do not allow schools to tell you when to spend time with your children. Public schools get funding based on attendance which is why they push the policy and try to scare parents.

As a teacher, I say yes also. Family is the most important and school work can be made up. Plan ahead to let your teacher know early so they are not rushed to get you the makeup work. Teachers have families too and usually understand. Classroom discussions will be missed but again family time is added. And you can even make WDW very educational, especially EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. We had a teacher even allow us to use our trip and turn it into an essay on what was learned at Animal Kingdom.

Have fun!

 

[mom_of_3_mousketeers]

We are pulling out our kids for a week and I have no shame saying it. We go back to school at the end of August, so the kids are still in review when we are going. We will get assignments beforehand and do them on the plane going to/coming back and then we have all day Sunday to finish. I don't think we'll be able to do it again once my oldest is in Jr High, so it's a once in a lifetime type of thing.

 

[stephgles]

Always!!!! My DS is a 3rd grader and has been pulled out for 6 days every September since K and will be in 4th grade as well. Not necessarily because of FD, but because that is our preferred travel time. I grew up going to WDW in the summer and waiting 3 hours to ride Space Mountain. Not fun and I will not do it. As long as my DS is doing well and is agreeable to doing what it takes to stay caught up with his classmates, we will continue to take him out of school.

That has been my thoughts as well. Also September is a catch up month normally too so they arent missing all that much.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'll add my 2 cents.

It is not too hard to pull someone out from around 4th grade and under. But as your kids get older, the amount of school work they miss increases.

We took trips each of the first 4 years my DD was in school. My DDis in 7th grade now and we haven't been since she was in 4th. Partly because we didn't want her to miss a week and partly because SHE didn't want to miss a week. (she is high honor roll + perfect attendance)

Trying to go over the summer with crowds and high temps didn't seem like the best way to spend 2-3k.

However this November we are planning on going for a week but she will only miss 3 days of school because they are closed 2 days that week. I plan on getting as many assignments, etc for her to complete. But it will be tough missing the classroom discussions (especially math) - but you only live once, right?

Besides, this might be the last chance to get our entire family together like this.

First, I'll say that we homeschool so traveling in September is a non-issue for us. However, my dh is a middle school teacher and it's difficult for kids in middle school and up to do make-up work.

In dh's classroom, there are no textbooks, which means he relies heavily on work done IN class. Lectures and power point presentations cannot be "made up" when a student returns. The same goes for group projects, lab work in science, and other hands-on activities. If you have a student who is struggling just a little bit in a higher level math, missing a week of instruction can put that student in a hole to dig out of for quite a while. JMHO, as I see dh's frustration with families who want "make-up work" because they schedule a week long vacation about 2 weeks after they had a whole summer vacation to travel.

I expect to be flamed because overall the flavor here is that it's OK for your kids to miss school. In some circumstances (school year is the ONLY time a parent gets vacation, the school district has a liberal absentee policy, the teachers are willing to give work--often busywork since class time can't be replicated--so the student can maintain an A, etc.), it would would OK.

In most circumstances, I don't think it's a good idea to pull a student out of school for a WDW trip. School = a student's job. I know family time is important and often hear the argument that "this is my child and I'll do what I want," but when you enroll a student in school then there are attendance rules which should be respected.

 

[Zim]

My daughter is in high school now, and we've pulled her out of school for weeks at Disney since she was 6.

I got more nervous about it when we hit middle school - what the teachers would think, what the repercussions would be. A very sage teacher gave me some keep-it-under-your-hat advice. But I'll tell you guys! Our schools have a policy where if you have 5+ "illegal" absences, you could fail that term and be held back. She said tell the school it's a 3 day vacation, then make the other two days non-illegal sick days.

If your kid is doing well in school, then I don't see why not. It's less hot, less crowded and all the teachers we've had were always excited for her and more than willing to coordinate homework in advance. And quite honestly, I think my DD gets quite a learning experience just in coordinating her homework assignments with teachers and getting them done on her own (okay, maybe that's a logical stretch...) This September we're working with days they already have off - Yom Kippur and a Fair day, so she is only missing 4 days. One or two of which will still be sick - just in case...

And just a little soapboxing.... like another poster said, it's amazing how many days of the school year they are closed, or open late or close early. IMHO, I'm just balancing out those "Make Every Day Count" days.

 

[Lyndsey]

My kids are pulled out every year for a vacation. This year they are in 7th 2nd and kindergarten. The teachers had no problems with it and they are all sending home the work hat will be missed. We drive from Ohio so my kids do most of there work on the drive down. And yes we are going during free dining!!!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My kids were pulled a few times until the 6th grade with no problem. I would have continued but we didn''t need to.
One trip my DD had a state test and teacher even said she could take it when she gets back.

Yes, bad mother of me to do this, but we had a blast and she was fine at school when we returned.

 

[mom of princessx2]

My daughter's school is going to the same schedule starting 2012-2013 in Indiana. We were mulling a trip that week as well. I wonder if we're close to each other...I'd rather go the week of Labor Day as we have in the past. I'm much more on board with dd missing school then dh is though.

We are in Clark County, Greater Clark School District. Where are you guys?

I have a few friends hoping they extend free dining into Oct so they don't have to pull their kids out. We have pulled them before and last year we pulled them the week before Christmas break. That week is usually full of fun and parties in elementary school,in fact one of dds assignments was to watch the Polar Express. We do not intend to pull them every year and as they get older it will be harder to catch up.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I have, I just told the school we cant go at any other time

 

[mommy2twinprincesses]

The thought had crossed my mind...I know I couldnt do it..Im too chicken..NO WAY would I do it. I was wondering if anyone had actually done it? My kid will be going into 5th grade this year?

I teach 5th grade and have no problem when students go on vacation with their families. I give them the work in advance (I do expect them to make it up but not spend their entire vacation working either) and tell them to enjoy their trip. To put it in perspective...fast forward 15 years. What would your child remember? What he/she learned in math that week or the memories your family made?

Enjoy. I wish I could go at an off peak time.

 

[carrie6466]

I pulled my daughter out in K, 1st and 2nd grades for a week/3 days/a week. Our school district actively discourages you from doing that. However, they plan 'teacher conference' days once a month (including March) where there is no school, 1/2 days for various reasons and days off for elementary school students for different reasons even when secondary has school.

I don't care that they discourage it. I spent my son's whole school 'career' doing the right thing. It didn't make a difference. My daughter? Hasn't made a difference in her schooling, either. So, unless or until it does, I'll keep on while she's in elementary school. We do whatever work the teacher sends home and send it back with her when we return. When she's in middle school it may be a different story.

I wasn't even going to tell the school about September, because she is only going to be missing 3 days, but it came up in a conversation regarding an evaluation my dd is having done in Sept./Oct. of this year. I spoke to the teacher who will be doing it and she says it isn't a problem, she'll just do it in October.

BTW, she is only missing 3 days in Sept. because they are off the first two days of that week. I called the district to find out what the Sept. days off would be, even though the school calendar won't be out until August.