Pulling a Kid out of School for a Trp

[Thing 1]

We pulled regularly until high school. Older just finished Grad School 4.0 GPA and younger in 5th grade... all As. Absolutely worth it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hey everyone,

I know that pulling your kid out of school for a family vacation is generally frowned upon in public school, but what if your kid is in Kindergarten, or will be? My trip for next year was postponed due to me taking an online course (for possible career change), which pushed out trip to the next year, 2019. Our DD will be in Kindergarten that year, and I'm thinking of taking her out to go to WDW. I know it's Kindergarten and not 1st, 2nd, 3rd or higher, but had to ask.

Thanks,
TTFN

Don't know what the school system is where you are, but here Kindergarten isn't mandatory. We can wait to start our children in public school in first grade, if we want.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

First off, thanks, everyone, for responding. Secondly, I know it's Kindergarten, but I had to ask. Our daughter's a pretty good student, she's in Pre-K so take that for what it's worth, and in the year and a half she's been in school she's missed only 2 days, maybe 3, that I know of, so being a pretty healthy young girl wouldn't be a problem on that front.

 

[gina2000]

Our children were out of school an average of 5 weeks a year for travel up to about grade 10. China, Europe, Africa, North America and never suffered for it. The teachers were mostly more than fine with it. Of course there will always be one or two that have a problem with it. Too bad for them. One child is now a licensed architect with a great firm, one's in pre-med and another starting university in the Fall and will graduate with honours.

School can suck the life out of you if you let it. A person will now spend at least a third of their life sitting behind a desk. School is not there is to life or education so follow your own path in life and don't let other's dictate the rules for you and yours.

I think there is a huge difference pulling kids for trips around the world verses WDW. I'm all for the types of trips you've gifted your children with; repeated trips to WDW, though, not so much.

 

[aprilgail]

I took my daughter out all the time in grade school- once Jr. High hit there was way to much work to make up by missing a week. They can miss 30 days of school per year before there is any issue of holding them back- only one time we exceeded that- she missed 36 days one year- all but 5 due to illnesses that year but she did not get held back since she was academically on target.

 

[design_mom]

I think it really depends on your school district. Some are very strict. I think most teachers, especially at the younger grades, are pretty understanding. As for making WDW sound like an "educational trip," I think that also depends on the school district. For many districts, attendance is factored into state ratings and educational funding. Our school doesn't mind if you take your kids out, but they want it to be an excused absence, because that doesn't impact their attendance rating. If you write a letter detailing the educational benefits of WDW, they can approve it as an excused "alternate learning experience." It's a dog-and-pony show, but, whatever works.

We took our son out once, when he was in 3rd grade. Acadmically, it was totally fine. However, it stressed him out to miss school. (I didn't really realize how much until my sister called to tell him he was missing a snow day at home. He was so relieved. And after that, when we were planning a vacation, he'd ask if he'd have to miss school for it.) So, basically, even though he was totally academically OK with missing, it stressed him out that he felt like he "should" be at school and wasn't. We haven't pulled him out again, unless it was unavoidable.

 

[Domo]

In the U.K. You would get fined for pulling a child out of school - but people do it anyway!

 

[katie01]

I don't think pulling a student out of kindergarten for a few days is a big deal, BUT it could go on their permanent record...

I'm wondering who looks at the kindergarten record and what, if any, repercussions it could have to show that a child went on vacation with their parents when they were 5 or 6? I am asking specifically because a friend of mine was telling me a story of some issue she had with the elementary school principal, it was not vacation or truancy related, but the principal tried to silence her complaints by saying, "If you complain about this, it is going to go into your child's file". When she told me the story we were both wondering, "What file? Who looks at this file? What level of confidentiality is there in a child's school file vs the privacy we all have in our health records now? Do colleges actually have permission to access a child's file or record from the elementary school years?

 

[tvguy]

Don't know what the school system is where you are, but here Kindergarten isn't mandatory. We can wait to start our children in public school in first grade, if we want.

Like I posted, you have to be careful with your state's laws. California doesn't require kindergarten, but they DO require a child who is 6 to be in school without regard to grade.

 

[katie01]

And to the OP, I would totally do it, as long as the school doesn't have a super-strict policy about taking a child out for vacation, this is the perfect time to do it. We were only able to take our kids to Disney by pulling them out of school (before our oldest reached high school age). Now all our kids would be on the adult rate for Disney, and the prices for school vacation times are higher (not to mention more crowded). I am so glad we took them when we could. None of them can remember any random week of school, but they all can remember the Disney trips in almost their entirety, and we still enjoy reliving those memories

 

[Wishing on a star]

I would not hesitate, at the younger grade levels.
I do not think that Kindergarten is mandatory here, either.

I would just advise you to be aware of all school policies regarding absence. And, adhere to these as much as possible.

I would not try to 'sell' the trip as having any educational value.
I would not seem to be asking for permission or approval.
I would be sure to advise the school/teachers in advance with a written notice.

"My child ______________ will be out of school on mm/dd/yy, mm/dd/yy, ....
We will be happy to get any assignments in advance, and to see that he/she completes any required make-up work.
signed: __________________________

I would also definitely avoid any of the major times where attendance is very very important or mandatory.
The end of grading periods, where studying and doing final testing are going on... Mandatory State Testing week... etc.

 

[North of Mouse]

Hey everyone,

I know that pulling your kid out of school for a family vacation is generally frowned upon in public school, but what if your kid is in Kindergarten, or will be? My trip for next year was postponed due to me taking an online course (for possible career change), which pushed out trip to the next year, 2019. Our DD will be in Kindergarten that year, and I'm thinking of taking her out to go to WDW. I know it's Kindergarten and not 1st, 2nd, 3rd or higher, but had to ask.

Thanks,
TTFN

We took our children (3) out of school every year for a trip (not Disney, but wouldn't matter) through high school and never had any issues. Our children were honor students throughout school and we always kept a very good relationship with the teachers, the children kept up their work, and caused no problems.

 

[because]

I don't think kindergarten is a big deal. Anything after that you need to evaluate what your district allows. Ours is very, very strict. The school district and union do not allow teachers to spend their extra planning time making up packets for unexcused absences nor are they allowed to spend their planning time grading, giving makeup tests or catching a student up for unexcused absences, especially voluntary vacations. On the 3rd day of any absence for illness requires a doctor's note to remain excused, so calling in sick for a vacation does not work to make it an excused absence.

Lack of being allowed to make up work can affect a child's grade and can keep them from accessing more advanced classes if they need it. Students start moving to different math and science classes starting in 3rd grade and the class you are assigned to is ability based. So, if you have missed a week of school and have a ton of zero's, you might not be placed in a curriculum suited to your actual ability. This has a domino effect in being able to access more advanced classes as you move through elementary and middle school.

Best to have a good idea what your district allows before you plan a vacation during school days. And before anyone argues that rules like this is funding based, it is not. Our district does not receive funding for seats at desks throughout the year. There is a count week in the beginning of the year where enrollment is counted and funding for the entire year is based on that number. Absences any other time of the year does not affect funding.

 

[because]

I would not hesitate, at the younger grade levels.
I do not think that Kindergarten is mandatory here, either.

I would just advise you to be aware of all school policies regarding absence. And, adhere to these as much as possible.

I would not try to 'sell' the trip as having any educational value.
I would not seem to be asking for permission or approval.
I would be sure to advise the school/teachers in advance with a written notice.

"My child ______________ will be out of school on mm/dd/yy, mm/dd/yy, ....
We will be happy to get any assignments in advance, and to see that he/she completes any required make-up work.
signed: __________________________

I would also definitely avoid any of the major times where attendance is very very important or mandatory.
The end of grading periods, where studying and doing final testing are going on... Mandatory State Testing week... etc.

That wouldn't work in our school district as the teachers are not allowed to give assignments in advance nor are students allowed to do make up work for unexcused absences.

 

[Skippy918]

Our district is strict. I’ve heard of parents getting truancy letters in the mail for more than 3 days out regardless of the reason. Our district gets funding depending on daily attendance.
I don’t plan to pull my kids out for trips. We prefer to take vacations in the summer. It’s less stressful and hectic and I can save money by not paying for summer camp.

 

[Wishing on a star]

That wouldn't work in our school district as the teachers are not allowed to give assignments in advance nor are students allowed to do make up work for unexcused absences.

Which is why I started my post with:

I would just advise you to be aware of all school policies regarding absence.

 

[Colleen27]

It all depends on your school and district. Some are very permissive/forgiving, others are very punitive, and in our experience grade level doesn't make a lot of difference on that count because the policies are set by the district.

We've taken our kids out pretty much every year, up to 7th grade for my oldest (who is not as strong a student and had a hard time getting caught up at that point) and we're still doing it at 11th grade with my middle child. When they were little (up to 2nd and 4th grades), we were in a district that frowned on it and didn't give work in advance. We'd get a nasty letter some years for exceeding the school's absence limit and ignored it every time. The district we moved to when they were starting 3rd/5th grades is much more accommodating - they have a form parents fill out in advance, teachers are required to provide what work they can, and as long as families don't go overboard, there's no problem getting vacations excused even at the high school level. The private school middle & youngest go to now is even better - they have classmates who compete in elite level individual sports with required travel, and even that is okay as long as the student is keeping up with his/her studies. DD16's work load is such that we don't do week-long trips during the school year every year any more, but we've done quite a few long weekends without any problems.

 

[DisneylandDarling]

No problem at all, especially kindergarten. I believe I was taken out for at least 4+ days (more like a week) every year I was in school (K-12). No problem, just make sure they get caught up.

 

[Momto2minniemice]

Never let school get in the way of learning!

I have taken my girls out of school just about every year. Homework has been made up, and in the younger years often they had very little to make up. I do send a very simple note to the school saying they will be out. And try to avoid state testing for my oldest. But when she was younger I just planned for less crowds.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[because]

Never let school get in the way of learning!

I have taken my girls out of school just about every year. Homework has been made up, and in the younger years often they had very little to make up. I do send a very simple note to the school saying they will be out. And try to avoid state testing for my oldest. But when she was younger I just planned for less crowds.

Enjoy your vacation!

The OP really needs to know her district's policy. I don't think kindergarten is a big deal and the OP should take the opportunity to travel when she still can. But in subsequent grades, the district policies vary widely, even with neighboring districts. Some districts like our school district, makeup homework would not be accepted. No makeup tests are given. Anything missed during an unexcused absence is an automatic 0.

Just because one person's district is accommodating, that does not mean the district next door would be. A few people here have stated they have been in or are still in very strict districts. Since this topic comes up regularly, policies across districts seem to vary from very lenient to very strict.