Missing School...

[tzolkin]

This is something I'm just starting to think about. My kids are older (15, 9,7) but our school district has no official attendance policy. Just states that if there are "excessive" absences that disciplinary action will be taken, but that's to be determined by the administration. No one has ever had an issue with us taking our kids out. (We have taken many two week vacations with the school's blessing) I think it really only applies to older kids skipping.

We are in the process of moving and I have been looking at the school handbooks. If they miss 4 days during a marking period (sick or unexcused) they fail. This policy seems ridiculous to me. DS missed twice that many days last winter because he kept catching a stomach virus. Normally my kids are never out sick, but you never know. I think this type of policy just encourages parents to send their sick kids to school because there is no way to predict how many times they may be more ill later in the term.

This is also upsetting to me because we are moving 12 hours away from family. I thought I would take the kids out a day here or there over long weekends so we could visit home but that doesn't seem like an option.

 

[taitai]

Do whatever you want. You know your kids and their abilities to catch up. However, understand your District's policies regarding missing school. Be prepared to accept the consequences, if any, of missing. By putting your kids in the school, you agree to abide by the policies.

 

[Tege]

Just make sure the kids know that if they miss school for Disney they probably won't be able to miss any more school unless they are gravely ill--that means no mental health days! I know school is important and I shouldn't condone frivolous absences, but I allow my oldest to miss school 2 or 3 times in the school year for no reason at all. In fact, we just had a mental health day, it was an unseasonably warm day in January so we went mini golfing and then went to Dairy Queen and ate Blizzards for lunch. Probably our kids won't remember every single thing that they learned in school, but when they are adults they will definitely remember the special days, whether it's a Disney vacation or skipping school to mini golf with mom.

I absolutely LOVE your idea of "Mental Health Day" And you are right in that they will remember them. When I was young my Dad worked away from home a lot so sometimes when he was home he'd take me out of school and we would go get these awesome milk shakes at a local restaurant. That was 30 yrs ago and it still make me smile.

 

[ChgoMusicGirl]

I agree with most of the PP, it sounds like you should be able to take them out without a problem, especially since the days are so far apart. Given, of course, that they are not behind in their work or assignments and if you want them to have make-up work (especially prior to your vacation) you give the teacher prior notice. I love the idea of having them journal and making the vacation an educational experience.
I'm a teacher and my DS is in Kindergarten. He's going to have to miss the last 3 days of school so we can go on vacation, he gets out a full week later than me and I would much rather be at WDW the first half of June than the last half! Not much goes on those last few days of school, so I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

I will continue to take my children out until it becomes an issue with her grades. Life's too short. Throughout the year school comes first, before sports, friends anything and we/She takes her school work and grades very seriously.. But when we plan for a trip we plan for it, I've never encountered a teacher or district that didn't allow for family vacation. Just recently I had her 7 days excused and she made up all her work in two nights!

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