Illinois Schools

[Toby'sFriend]

All this talk of unexcused absences made me curious --

This is what I have been able to pull from the Illinois School Code

Sec. 26-1. Compulsory school age-Exemptions.
2. Any child who is physically or mentally unable to attend school, such disability being certified to the county or district truant officer by a competent physician or a Christian Science practitioner residing in this State and listed in the Christian Science Journal; <b>or who is excused for temporary absence for cause by the principal or teacher of the school which the child attends</b>; the exemptions in this paragraph.....

So basically if you have to get the Principal and the Teacher to agree to it!

 

[cgcw]

We took our 5 year old last year 2 weeks into the start of kindergarden. We told him teacher from day 1 that we were going and repeatedly asked for any work that he needed to do prior or before returning to school. We got nothing. I left a message on our schools attendance line explaining his absence. While his teacher was less than thrilled with the idea, she never commented to me in one way or another.....until conferences a couple of weeks later. She told me that my son was so far behind because we took him out of school. And, alot of people think it's only kindergarten and it wouldn't make any difference. Really got my goat!! They were working on colors -- he knew all of his color plus additional ones that they thought were too difficult (like turquiose instead of blue/green). Anyway, I would do it again in a heart beat and hope I never have to sell my case to a teacher or principal as to why.....WDW can be an education in itself!

 

[OhMickey]

I took my 4 children out of school last year for 8 days. My oldest was in 6th grade and my youngest was in 1st.

We had a variety of reactions from the teachers. The sixth grader's teacher couldn't keep track of when and for how long we were going. My daughter had little homework.

The teacher of my son who is in 3rd grade was so supportive and wanted us to have a terrific time. His assignments were Disney related and a lot of fun. He had to make a journal to share when he came back and do a Disney related worksheet. His class had a student teacher and she had been a CM at AK the previous summer and it was this wonderful teacher to be who prepared the worksheet.

My two 1st graders just had to write a journal and practice telling time.

I had written a letter to each teacher outlining our trip, when we were going and when we would return. On the day we returned I got a phone call from one of the first grade teachers wondering when I was going to send my kids back! I told her that I wrote her a note and sent copies to the principal.


I'm a little nervous about next year when we plan to go again. My oldest will be in 8th grade and as you know, things don't get any easier.

 

[TmnsnMD]

My son is in the 6th grade this year and we will be going to WDW end of Oct. (He goes to a private christian school so that does tend to help when it comes to a FAMILY vacation.)

I wrote a letter to the principal on Aug 14th and mailed it to the school, in the letter I stated the days we would be gone, requested a meeting with DS teachers to explain, advised we would take work with us, do work in advance and do any work after our return.

Well, I got a call at work yesterday from the pricipal to advise that he did rec. my letter, he would notify each teacher and request that work be given in advance. He stated that he wanted us to have a great time on our trip, not to worry about school, he did request that DS write a report (something educational) about our vacation. DS wants to do something about the animals in AK.

Just getting the call has really put my mind at ease. I will still request a meeting with each teacher just to let them know myself, but so far we have not had any problems.

I wish every principal and teacher understood how important a FAMILY vacation can be to a child and parent.