Kids go free - what about School?

[Luvdisney]

What do you all do about school? Our kids start school around first week in Sept. I can't see having them start just to pull them out right away. Seems to me they are behind right off the bat.

 

[manleykr]

It all depends on the grade your kids are in. I am not usually able to take off during the summer at my work, it is our busiest time so we always went in September. We talked to our kids schools each time and they would always tell us it was fine. They always told us that the first few weeks of school would be the best time to take them out, better than at Christmas or any other time. They are usually just getting into the swing of things and playing catch up and review from the previous year. Last year was our last year to do this. We have a sophomore now and leaving during school is harder, it affects credits now. We leave in 2 weeks for U.S., I.O.A., and Disney. Good Luck in your planning.

 

[Humpbacks1962]

Mine were taken out for a week during December. We managed just fine. I have done it twice already. The parks close early during that week, so we just headed back early and did homeworks before bedtime.

On the second trip I just encouraged them to do all their work the weekend before we left, so they would not have to do school work in the hotel.

Just ask the teachers to give you the work for the week. The kids should be OK.

Wanda

 

[Disneydenise]

As an elementary school teacher I would say that if you are going to take them out the beginning of the year is the best time. It is usually getting into the routine and review.

 

[HunnyPots]

I'd say go for it! The first six weeks or so is review anyway. You might find out from the teacher what will be covered while you are away and go over it with the kids while you are traveling. Practice muliplication tables, or whatever. If nothing else, it will help pass the time in transit!

PS - I've seen this turn into a "heated" discussion a few times (on other boards of course ) so beware.

 

[DisneyFix]

Just remember that not all kids are "school age" for this deal. Kids 5 and under would benefit. I forget what age you have to start paying at WDW, either 2 or 3...either way, some kids would benefit. We always take ours out of school for Disney, but I don't know if I would in early September - it doesn't seem fair to them.

 

[chris1gill]

We took our DS out of kindergarten last September for 2 weeks.. He'd gone to school exactly six days before we left... He didn't miss a thing... I'm planning on taking him out for 2 weeks in December... He already works on a second grade level, so I'm not worried about him missing anything in grade 1... after that I'm just going to see how we progress... we may go during Thanksgiving time, missing only 1 week total, or go during vacation times or what have you... We'll have to see how he's doing say around grade 2 & up...

 

[epcotitis]

It's no problem with creative teachers if you take your children on a family trip once a year during school. Do check with the teacher before ressies are made and encourage your child's teacher to come up with related activities! I love it when I can live through my students trips. A little girl in my ds's class went to Japan this year and the teacher made the experience fun for the whole class!

 

[Humpbacks1962]

I don't see why this should turn into a heated discussion. It is a parent's decision and no one else's bussiness anyway.

I give early notification to the teachers, well after school starts. then I send a reminder the week before we leave in December, collect homeworks, dittos, etc., and encourage the kids to have everything finished before we take off. When they do not, they usually start working on the papers during the plane trip.

Since we do it during value season dates, the parks close early. We head back, eat, shower and end the day going over classwork. The most school days they missed was 8, and they caught up just fine.

One BIG piece of beneficial advice, though:Bring sweet and simple souvenirs for the teachers along with thank you notes upon your return!!

Wanda

 

[lisapooh]

Absolutely would not work in our county. If your kids are absent for more than 3 days you get called. More than five you have to meet with the counselor and principal. Goes down after that. being absent can be a crime around here. Scary. One of our students was absent for good reason (surgery) and still his Mom was reperted to child welfare.

 

[Humpbacks1962]

I give plenty of early notification and the absence is excused. *I* am the mama. *I* make the decision and the reservations and notify. It is *our* vacation. My children do not miss a day of school during the year except for when they have a doctor's excuse otherwise. I have never had a problem.

I never heard of such a situation, sounds like a very dramatic step. Normally there are severe reasons before the schools call the state. I'd be surprised if child protection agencies have so much free time or available staff that after three absences from school, the officials visit homes.

Could it be because truancy and unexcused absenteeism was a big problem with the students involved?

Wanda

 

[Cindy B]

Hey also in September, check for days off in the school year. For instance our son has two days off in two different weeks due to Jewish holidays Rosh Hasashanah and Yom Kippur.

Its a public school system, so they do both Jewish and non Jewish holidays. (ie Christmas week)

If you could work around that, that would take away a day or two, (these days are within a week of each other)

Our public school has a 5 day policy. Absent for more than 5 unexcused days (ie trip), not illness, you can go truant. We asked my sons teacher, he's in kindergarten this year, and they said no problem.

 

[PoohBeth]

Our school system is also very srticy with students missing days. Parents are called if a child misses 3 days, & meet with the truent officer after 10 days -- this is regardless of the reason/excuse, I'm not sure exactly when we are reported to DFACS but I know this is part of their policy. Our teachers also seem to be "trained" to be "not so nice" to students who miss days. We have a new school board and over the past two years, our schools have a new, very strict dress code along with the absentee policy. I have taken my child out for a week in October before, but it was years ago when she was in first grade. She is now in high school, and would probably be failed in classes for missing for a vacation.

 

[mattlm]

Good grief - it's school, not prison. Travel for any age is a good learning experience. Even more so with a little effort. Applied math, geography, social graces, world studies among others.

If your school does not see this then you might consider private school - that's where we're at.

Oh yeah, you can afford playing on the Internet and going to Disney so you can afford private school.

 

[pamk]

I read an article in the newspaper recently that the state of Massachusetts is trying to pass some law that if your child is out of school for more than - I think it was 3 days - without a doctors note that the parents could be fined $100.00 and possibly have other charges broght against them. The article specifically included students being taken out for vacations. We're going in November so I hope that it doesn't pass before then!

 

[Lisa P.]

Just a thought for those with kindergarteners and first graders... while the public schools may enroll children as early as age 4 (turning 5), your state may have an older age for required attendance.

Here in NC, for example, the age is 7 years. Consequences for "truancy" may not apply for younger children since they are not legally bound to attend anyway. We home school and younger children aren't bound by the testing requirements for home schoolers either. It may be worth checking in your state, if your vacation is questioned.

When we lived in CT, we received a nasty form letter for the kids missing public school for 3 days Thanksgiving week... threatening truancy charges if they missed more. And the trip had been pre-planned and approved! When we moved to NC, the same thing happened here! It's not that uncommon and seems to be getting worse. Here, I've read that school funding is affected by attendance (same as bus transport funding) which is just one more reason why they offer incentives for perfect attendance. Perhaps that influences some boards to get more rigid.

Flexibility is not why we home school now but it sure is a nice benefit of homeschooling. We're "in session" year round. Throughout the year, we just choose about 8 individual weeks (plus occasional days) to take "off," spreading them out to whenever it suits our family. It's really too bad parents are so often kept to such strict requirements and the schools all seem to keep to similar schedules, making vacations more expensive.

 

[CapeCod53]

I dont know about reporting you to the authorities, but starting 6 years ago, at the junior-senior high school level our school system switched to a block schedule ( the kids go to 4 90 min classes each day) so that each class meets 2-3 times each week or 5 times every 2 weeks. At that point if a student missed 10 days or more in the entire school year for any reason at all, points would be taken off their grades, lowering their gpa. More points for each additional day missed. There are absolutely no excused absences (college interviews, surgery, death in the family, vacation, etc) so unless you can guarantee that your child will never break a leg, get the flu, have a grandparent die, etc no one is willing to use 5 days or more on a vacation. I know Mass takes every holiday in the book, & we get both a Feb & April vacation week, so once my daughter reached 7th grade we only took wdw trips during April vacation. However, we did take 3 October trips when she was in elementary school & had no problems with her keeping up with her work.

 

[Humpbacks1962]

Wow, Lisa, that was pretty awful! I live in Connecticut and have never had a problem taking my kids out to go on a vacation.

Just speak to the teachers before you do it and give plenty of time warning. Like I said before, I always have the kids write a thank you note and bring a little soemthing from the trip. They catch up and everything is just fine upon our return...

Wanda

 

[chris1gill]

I just wanted to agree with the poster that said some schools actually lose money when the student misses days... that's one reason they push the attendance so hard... I've heard that from many parents.... I'm personally of the opinion that travelling as a family & spending family time together is ONLY a positive, great learning experience... it's really unfortunate that schools feel the pressure so as not to allow that... It does sadden me to think about that.... I just hope our next trip in December is a success... our son will be in first grade, and he already does second grade work... I hope they don't give us any trouble... Pamk said in her post Massachusetts is considering a truancy law? Hope it doesn't come to pass....

 

[Disneydenise]

The absence ruling sometimes has to do with federal funding. If your county can say they have a remarkably low rate of absenteeism your funding sometimes is better. You know its always about the money honey.