North Carolina attendance question

[elf]

My first time on the family board but I saw a similar thread in my searches on school attendance.

We just moved to NC from New York. I never had a issue taking kids out of school in New York, today I talked to parents who warned me it is a big issue here. It's Friday night and I'm a wreck. We have a vacation planned this coming week starting Thurs. for Disney.

She is in 2nd grade and we are in Forsyth County does anyone know how strict they are at following the rules, I read the rule book and went the the NC attendance law. My dd will miss 4 days.
Problem is she missed a day last week because my MIL got sick and we did an emergency trip to NY last week drove there and back 20 hours in 3 days.
Appreciate any info. Thank you

 

[james'mommy]

my son will miss 6 days over 2 vacations and we were told that it won't be a problem. the schools are required to send a nasty letter but it doesn't really mean anything unless they have excessive (ie 15 or more) absences

 

[MSSANDRA]

We are in NC but not the same Co. NEVER had issue one with then schools. There are rules but most school here look the other way.

Try not to worry. She is 2nd grade,they will not fail her and the worse that might happen is a ugly letter!!

 

[tripplanner]

I live in the same county. They are strict about attendance, but in 2nd grade I really doubt anyone will make a big deal about it. I wouldn't worry about it. I would just let the teacher know my plans and be sure to get any necessary makeup work.

 

[crunchymomma]

Contact the principal. They are usually pretty lenient if you agree to ahve your daughter make up the work while you are gone and do a presentation about the trip!

 

[kellyg403]

I live in another county in NC, but here the elemetary school kids are allowed 8 days per semester for excused and unexcused absences. When I took my 3rd grader out for our WDW vacation in 2005 orginially he was only going to miss 3 days before Christmas break started. We ended up having a hurricane that year that took the kids out for 4 days. They made them up the first 3 days of Christmas break. To make a long story short, I went to the principal and there is some type of form you can turn in and he can decide that it is an educational trip so all days would be excused. They frown on more than 4 days unexcused and send the nasty letter on the 4th absence.

Check with the principal, teacher or someone at the school if you can do that to make it an excused absence. Our teacher that year was great and let my son make up all his work before he left. Which turned out to be great news, 1 day after we came home he broke out in chicken poxs for the rest of christmas break!

Just check around, most of the time they are really good if you speak to them upfront.

Kelly

 

[sfd38]

WDW 2000, one child 2nd grade one child pre-school. The principal at the Public school said that Disney would count as a field trip if we went to Epcot and my oldest child wote a small story about the trip a told it to her class when we got back.

And welcome to the great state of n.c.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We are in New Hanover County (Wilmington), and the school calls the social worker after two unexcused days. That being said, I just pulled DD8 out for two days. I informed her teacher and the principal at the start of school, and her teacher was great about it. I didn't call her in sick to avoid the unexcused absences - I was straight with her teacher about where we were going.

This is the first year it has been an issue - we have taken DD out for a week each year and no one ever blinked. Our county now only considers college visiting trips "educational" for excused purposes, although DD has kept a journal in previous years as part of her homework.

The best advice I can give is to talk to the teacher up front and find out how makeup work should be handled. If your daughter has been a good student, it probably won't be a problem, assuming you are not missing any state mandated testing. We are at the end of the marking period this week (you may be as well), so the teacher might need some things in advance rather than when you get back. Just explain the situation and offer to make up any work at the teacher's convenience, not your DD's. I would go into the school Monday before school starts and talk to the teacher in person if you have not already informed them of your trip.

Have a great trip!

 

[Swimnoid]

Eventhough all the schools have the same rules it sort of depends on the school how strict they are in making a big deal out of it. For most of them you wont have much trouble. I took DD out of school twice per year every year from K-12 for WDW. The school personnel were fine with it. I still got the state mandated "your child missed 3 days of school, you are going to jail" letters but she still graduated! We are in Davidson Co. but I work with kids from Forsyth and it is the same for them.

 

[elf]

Thanks everyone. I dont' mind getting a warning letter. I was a little scared when people starting telling me about kids being threatened with being left back and "there's nothing I can do". I would move before I let that happen anyway. I will call the teacher on Monday and see how she feels about it. I will also mention how I will keep education involved, budgeting money for trinkets, reading maps, Epcot passport as well as have her write a small report.
I feel much better, thanks again.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

We are in New Hanover County (Wilmington), and the school calls the social worker after two unexcused days. That being said, I just pulled DD8 out for two days. I informed her teacher and the principal at the start of school, and her teacher was great about it. I didn't call her in sick to avoid the unexcused absences - I was straight with her teacher about where we were going.

This is the first year it has been an issue - we have taken DD out for a week each year and no one ever blinked. Our county now only considers college visiting trips "educational" for excused purposes, although DD has kept a journal in previous years as part of her homework.

The best advice I can give is to talk to the teacher up front and find out how makeup work should be handled. If your daughter has been a good student, it probably won't be a problem, assuming you are not missing any state mandated testing. We are at the end of the marking period this week (you may be as well), so the teacher might need some things in advance rather than when you get back. Just explain the situation and offer to make up any work at the teacher's convenience, not your DD's. I would go into the school Monday before school starts and talk to the teacher in person if you have not already informed them of your trip.

Have a great trip!

I have a long time close friend who lives in Wilmington!!! Wonderful area. Love it there.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Remember in talking with the teacher to be respectful and tactful but do not ASK permission to take your DD out. Yes, it does matter what she thinks but be sure not to let her think that not going is an option. Do not worry, it will be fine!!

 

[mcgypsy]

The state public school law on attendance is that the student must have a certain number of contact hours - or time in the seat in a classroom. In K thru 8th grade, that means if they miss more than 20 days excused or unexcused, the school has the right to hold the child back. That said, unless a child just blatantly refuses to come to school, and the parents don't seem to care, it rarely becomes an issue. Our social worker gets involved after 15 days, and court proceedings for truancy start after 30 missed days.
I work for the school, and I take my kids out for trips. It's not those types of things that are a concern. As long as your kids make up the work, it's not generally a problem.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I have a long time close friend who lives in Wilmington!!! Wonderful area. Love it there.

We love it too!