Pulling kids out of school?

[twinspluscade]

We'll be pulling my twins out of Kindergarten for 5 days in September. Also my son out of pre-school, but I don't really count that since it's only two mornings a week--he'll miss 5 hours total.

I'm a bit nervous about taking the girls out so early in the school year! However, they would've missed days that week regardless since my brother is getting married Sept 13 in Colorado, and we're driving to the wedding. The original plan was to go with my parents early to CO, leaving Monday night (so they would've missed four days of school). Then we decided to leave the previous Friday night, and stay at DLR four nights before going to CO. So now they'll miss 5 days instead of 4. I've already okayed it with the school; one of the Kindy teachers told me they'll probably send home just a bit of make-up work. Luckily our school is pretty good about kids missing for family vacations; I know quite a few families who have done so with no problems.

 

[bethy]

She has said that she will approve going to Hawaii for a week, but not DL.

This is really insulting! Who does she think she is to judge where your family should and shouldn't vacation? The nerve!

 

[jemilah]

DS8's teacher just says if you miss school to go to DL you have to bring me a present!

 

[mo3bys]

Jenn1116......
We live in Ca also. Last December when we went to Disneyland both our boys were able to be on 'independent study'. They were in Kindergarten and 2nd grade. They do it for KG and up

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DS has missed 4 days of school this year ~ 3 for DLR in Sept. & 1 in Jan. for a snow day ~ it was a crazy winter here. Barring any illness (knock on wood ~ I have healthy kids) he will only miss 3 more days in April ~ actually more like 2.5 days, Wed. are short days here. We're planning on going back early Dec. DD will be in kindergarten next year, they'd miss 3-4 days then as well. Do I worry ~ no! However my BIL and his family live in WY ~ he's a police officer, he rarely gets Sat. & Sun. off ~ he started the job when their oldest was in kindergarten ~ if he had a Wed. & Thurs. off they'd go visit family, they received letters/warnings from the district, she's a smart girl I thought it was crap.

 

[IBLarsen]

I too, am taking my DS out of Kindergarten in the fall for our DL trip. We wanted to go early in Sept, but we decided to push it back until 9/26-10/4. We felt that this would give him a month of school to understand the routine, being his first year. Other than giving him a little time to adjust, I felt no reason not to take him out for vacation. It's Kindergarten, it's not like he is missing calculus. I have received conflicting opinions from others as well, but I honestly haven't given it a second thought. Enjoy your trip and your family time!

 

[TripHHH]

I took my daughter to Disneyland mid-October last year and she missed a week of second grade. No big deal, teacher gave her a trip journal to write in and share with the class when she got back. The school considered it an excused absence since I let them know about it in advance.

It was so worth it....most rides were walk-ons and it was a stress-free and wonderful vacation.

I understand that school is a commitment and a responsibility, but at 7 years old I want my daughter to enjoy life and not be too serious at that age. She has a long life ahead of her that will be filled with commitments and responsibilities. She's a great student now who rarely misses class, so a week off for Disneyland is isn't going to hurt. I would hate for her to miss that week at Disneyland because of a sense of responsibility.

We are going next week too...spring break here, no missed school days...but we will also be going again next October with a week of missed school. I'm more excited about October....love NOT having to spend our vacation waiting in lines.

Enjoy your vacation!!!

 

[NAOMIPPB]

Growing up, my mom was always taking us (five kids) out of school for trips. We went everywhere. All over the country and even to Europe for 3 months. I can promise that we learned alot more on our trips than we ever would of learned in a classroom. Especially now with class sizes at 30+. The school's problem is that they dont get paid for the days your child is not in school. And considering that my taxes pay for school, if I want to take my kids out for a trip, I will.

 

[tortugaverde]

I teach high school. If a student came to me (as many have) and asked about leaving for a week to go on vacation I would say "Awesome! Have a great time. Either get your work beforehand, or come and see me when you get back." I can not imagine a teacher thinking otherwise. Family time and vacationing IS learning. Yes, the student will miss whatever happens that week. Yes, they will have to make work up. BUT to travel with family (anywhere!) is a very VALUABLE experience. I say take the trip!

Oh, and in Oregon and Washington the school gets paid for students who are enrolled. Unless you withdraw your child from school... they are still enrolled and therefore the school gets the funding. Students can be automatically dropped if they do not show up for 6 or more consecutive days (this is high school and we do have drop outs). Really, the money is not that much per kid... so I am surprised the school would make a deal about that at all. Especially if your district gets paid per day (which is crazy paperwork... who tracks that?!?!).

Kids miss class all the time. Parents are IN CHARGE of their kids. Parents get to decided when and where there children are. Unless you are being neglectful and refusing to provide your child with an education (a weeks vacation does not add up to neglect!) you should have nothing to worry about... despite any letters you receive.

Parents have a lot of power within the school. Regardless of what the school may tell you

 

[Sally_fan]

We did last year (I think that the kids missed about 9 days) & our school didn't mind. My DS was in Gr 2 & my DD was in K. The K teacher just told us to go & have a blast (but please read every day which is never an issue with our family, we love to read) where the Gr 2 teacher sent a great little homework assignment to be worked on every day with my DS. He was to calculate & keep track of how far we travelled each day (we drove from B.C. Canada down the Oregon Coast to California), the temperatures of where we were, what we ate, where we ate, what we did, what we saw, collect momentos to attach to his report, etc. It was a fun & educational assignment PLUS he has a super souvenier of our trip that he made all by himself! His little sister even decided to make herself one.
We are going to take them out again this coming October for a total of 5 days.

 

[Tink208]

Oh, and in Oregon and Washington the school gets paid for students who are enrolled. Unless you withdraw your child from school... they are still enrolled and therefore the school gets the funding. Students can be automatically dropped if they do not show up for 6 or more consecutive days (this is high school and we do have drop outs). Really, the money is not that much per kid... so I am surprised the school would make a deal about that at all. Especially if your district gets paid per day (which is crazy paperwork... who tracks that?!?!).

I am in CA, and our district receives $37 a day funding per student from the state. If just one kid in each class is absent on a given day, that is almost $1,000.00 in lost funding. Over the course of a school year, absences have cost our district (13 schools total), a lot of money. And absent is absent; they no longer distinguish between excused and unexcused when it comes to whether they get funding or not. Given our state's current budget situation and how it is affecting our school district's budget, we need every penny we can get. This would be one reason we do not pull our kids out for vacations; another being because we have 185 non-school days a year, so we are able to find a way to schedule around the school days. (And we still manage to have fun, quality-time filled family vacations, even at DLR during peak season.)

But, for those who do take their kids out, there is an independent study option, if you are going to have them out for at least five school days. It isn't encouraged, but if the principal or a teacher knows you are considering a trip, they will suggest you keep your child out for five days so they can still get the funding. I totally agree that is wrong for the principal to make the determination of what is an appropriate trip to warrant authorizing the independent study. I can't imagine our principal doing such a thing.

 

[DevilDuckie]

It would depend on the age of the child and their academic success for us. A straight A elementary student is one thing- a jr. high schooler pulling Cs would get a different answer. Because of the way CA schools are funded based on daily attendees we do try to keep it to a minimum but we've been known to pull the kiddo for a couple days.

 

[ashbyyokosuka]

i'm taking out my 9 (turning 10) for this DL trip (we are leaving ON her b-day which is a Sat. and staying for 4 days (so she will miss 2 days)

my brother died this past Aug (no kids of his own)- he and my daughter were born on the same day. he spent many a birthdays w/ us--so we could all celebrate together.
this is going to be a particulary hard b-day for her... the first w/out him.

we wanted this one to be special--it will be hard for all of us...

and

she is also missing over 5 days at the end of the year (they get out in June)
this is a yr round school that we go to (end in June and start back up in July)

my parents are having their 50th wedding anni--and that date isn't changing.

i've already talked to her teacher about it--and she is totally fine w/ it.
my child is in the GATES program, so she is able to easily catch up.

 

[Rapunsel]

I am in one of those lovely CA school... My son was missing a day of school to go on a camping trip. The first dasy he ever missed. The school asked me for the $40. I said fix the budget...Basically KMA.

He missed 2 days to go to Hawaii. This year then a week due to illness. Then he has the opportunity to go to South America with his Grandama. Yep he is missing the last 3 days of school. When could that opportunity ever happen again.

So for this years trip to Hawaii I purposely planned the trip for 8 days so we can take a contract out with the school so they still get their $ and we still get our vacation. As I work for a Dentist and I can only be on vacation when he is. So if it is a hunting trip in November so be it..

Not all of us can vacation in the summer.

Also we dont have to wory about DL trips. We have ap's and go after school.