School excuse wording

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

As long as your child is not struggling in his/her classes I see nothing wrong with removing the child from school. I have done this every year for my DS13. We like to see the Christmas decorations so, we leave Tuesday after school and stay until Sunday. Mind you all class/homework must be completed either before we leave or the day after our return. So, far there has been no problems....

I usually email all teachers the days he will be missing a couple weeks in advance so, they have time to get his work together.

 

[zupzup]

We're heading to WDW for Thanksgiving and this is the first time, since kindergarten, that I'll be taking my kids out of school (they're now in high school and middle school). I'm dreading writing that letter and hoping that all of their teachers will be on board and supply them with homework/lessons that need to be completed. My plan is to just tell them that we are spending Thanksgiving with family out of state........after all, Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the gang are family, aren't they?

 

[Alesia]

We're heading to WDW for Thanksgiving and this is the first time, since kindergarten, that I'll be taking my kids out of school (they're now in high school and middle school). I'm dreading writing that letter and hoping that all of their teachers will be on board and supply them with homework/lessons that need to be completed. My plan is to just tell them that we are spending Thanksgiving with family out of state........after all, Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the gang are family, aren't they?

What will your kids say when they go back to school? Are they not going to be allowed to talk about their trip? Will they need to lie about where they were?

 

[bnf2]

...Thanks for any ideas on how to express the Disney experience in educational terms.

As always, this has turned into a debate on whether kids should be taken out or not. It's a personal choice & the OP has simply asked for help in wording an excuse letter....

 

[LaurenT]

I just write a note saying that my daughter will be out of school on the following dates to join her family on vacation...
And I'll mention it to the teacher during open school night next week...

 

[LaurenT]

We're heading to WDW for Thanksgiving and this is the first time, since kindergarten, that I'll be taking my kids out of school (they're now in high school and middle school). I'm dreading writing that letter and hoping that all of their teachers will be on board and supply them with homework/lessons that need to be completed. My plan is to just tell them that we are spending Thanksgiving with family out of state........after all, Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the gang are family, aren't they?

Why do you need to make stuff up? You are the parent - can't you just say your family will be away those days?

 

[tallen429]

I know different states/schools have different absence policies, but all I would have to do is write a letter saying "Child (insert name) will be out of school from Blank to Blank." Where we are going or what we are doing isn't required.

I don't make a habit of taking kids out. I have only done it twice. Once when my oldest was in Kindergarten and last December when I took my middle DS to WDW for a few days. I chose the week prior to the last day of schoo before the holidays because at least where we are, the kids do basically nothing but holiday crafts and projects. It turned out there were two snow days, so he only missed two days anyway. His teacher had absolutely no issue with it at all.

 

[zupzup]

What will your kids say when they go back to school? Are they not going to be allowed to talk about their trip? Will they need to lie about where they were?

I think the schools/teachers are so used to families taking their kids out of school during the holidays that they won't even question them. Our school district is very big.......the middle school alone (gr. 6 -8) has about 2,000 kids in it. And, if questioned, I wouldn't even ask my kids to lie about it. We'll be traveling with good friends who technically are like family....so, it's not much of a stretch for me to say we're spending Thanksgiving with family. LOL I usually don't take my kids out of school for trips because they would miss out on a lot at school and have to make up that work. We made an exception this year for Thanksgiving and my girls will only miss 2 days which will be manageable.

 

[KatieCollette]

In our district kids can miss up to 17 days per year without issue, they prefer you do not travel during class time but that cannot be helped. I am in WI and have the utmost respect for education and good teachers but last spring we had teachers that took a 2-3 week sick out in protest so they don't have much to say about a week if she stays up on her work. She is taking homework and the asst principal signed off.

Judy

Hey neighbor We live in Greendale.

In my kids school it's not an issue (at least for a 6 year old.) I just tell them ahead of time and he is going to keep a journal while we're there and stick in a few pictures he will take. I would definitely put in the note you will write that you will have him do some sort of project. We will do the epcot pasport as well.Make it a fun project though!

 

[jerivera]

Our school district doesn't like you taking the child away, but at the same time, the idea that you'd get into that much trouble for doing so I think is a bit overblown.

Also, I don't think you really need to get that elaborate about "why" your kids are out.

I'd say go with the a generic excuse so they know you'll be out. Example:

"Due to a family trip, _____ will be away from ___ to ___. Please excuse this absence. If there are any homework or assignments planned for this period, please let us know in advance and we will endeavor to have ____ do it on a daily basis. Thank you for your understanding."
​

Don't make up excuses. If your child is in AP and there are rules surrounding that, then that's a concern, but you'd have thought of that ahead of time. Otherwise, I don't think you need to be that concerned about a school time trip.

Some in my family go into shock when I say the girls will be out of school due to a trip. But they aren't really into vacations to begin with, and aren't big Disney fans (they go during peak times, if at all, which explains why), so I don't really listen much to them anyway.

Hope your trip is a magical one!

 

[HowdyHeidi]

I'm not sure what the OP form looks like, but if it is like my school districts form, you don't need to elaborate too much. Last year we took a kid out to visit Washington DC. The form does state "educational trip" and the days off are preapproved, but are not excused. You can only have a certain number total of unexcused or they can report you for truancy. It is just the way the law is.

However, under "Reason" on the form, I just write "family trip." No need to contrive educational reasons, most educators know that traveling is educational and they aren't going to deny it unless it is a huge detriment to the student under certain circumstances... And the teacher needs to know ahead of time if s/he is going to assign work for the trip...

So don't sweat it...

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Man things have really changed, I finished school in '02 and i dont think my mom had to do any of this!

 

[YO's Mom]

Our school district has a policy against parents taking kids out of school for family vacations. That being said, I am taking my girls out of school for 5 days in November. They are in third grade and kindergarten. My thoughts are that 1) it’s primary school – they aren’t going to miss the section on brain
surgery that week and 2) I am the parent, and I get to decide what is right for my children. My third grader is an A student who reads above grade level. If her teacher will send her work with us, great. If she will let her make it up when she gets back, great. If she won’t allow any make up work – oh, well. This is what works for me to be able to take my family to Disney.

FWIW, I am actually a very pro-school kind of mom. My daughters always have excellent attendance, do their homework, win citizenship awards, and neither has ever been in any trouble. Despite being an only parent who works full time, I have still done all the parties for my older daughter’s class for the past 2 years. I volunteer for the PTO and participate in all the school functions.

To the pp who said that taking kids out of school isn’t fair to the other kids because the teachers have to take time to help them catch up – my children’s teachers spend a lot of time dealing with other children at the expense of my child. She has to wait while the teacher deals with undisciplined children who disrupt the classroom. She has to wait while the teacher explains a math concept over and over and over for the kids who just aren’t getting it. She has to wait for the teacher to send kids to their special classes – speech, reading, counseling sessions. She has to wait while the teacher deals with the para-professionals who accompany 3 of her classmates to school each day. There is 1 teacher, 1 aide, and 19 kids. At some point, every child is taking the teacher’s attention away from the class as a whole.

 

[Bummbok]

I would just state the bare facts, not try to justify the "educational" benefit of going to WDW. As soon as they see WDW on the letter, form or whatever they will make their decision about excused or not regardless of your justifications.

And be absolutely clear on the potential consequences. Some school districts have very strict attendance policies. Some schools won't allow make up work. And some schools will give zeros for grades for work on those days. So just be fully aware of your district's rules and think ahead for possible sick days and other ramifications.

Oh and try to avoid making promises your kids won't keep...promising teachers they'll learn something sounds really good in practice, but if your kids are like mine getting them to repeat back what they learned in school today is painful enough much less something they learned 7-10 days ago...

 

[mma800]

I am taking my 3 kids out of school for a total of 4 days to go to WDW over Halloween. It has been planned for almost a year. They are in 3 different schools with all different vacation, early release, & long weekend schedules. After several years of working around the school schedules for trips (not just WDW)- I am fed up. They can deal with MY schedule this time. I am only expecting grief from 1 of the schools- but I am not prepared to compromise or lie. I pay a TON of money for my DD to attend, and she is a great student with rare absences. Their policy last year (when missing a Thurs and Friday for MY grandmothers 90th bday celebration) was they would NOT provide work to take along. Kid MUST make it up when they return. Oh well. She did the work when she returned---all 3 pages of it, and had no absences or tardy for the rest of the school year. I stressed about it for nothing.
In preparation, I have already told all my kids teachers about our trip. So far- no grief. We'll see.
If I my kids were struggling- I would be more concerned,
but it is 4 days

 

[si-am]

Here is the letter from The Mouse for Less - A lot like the letter already seen

School Excuse Sample Letter

DATE:

TO: [school official]

FROM:

RE: [students name and vacation dates]

Please be advised that [student] will be out of school during the week of [date]. We ask that his absences be excused.

The reason for [student]'s absence is that our family will be out of the state during this week. While we are gone, we will be visiting Walt Disney World. We believe that [student] will be learning many things during this trip and that his education will continue in his absence from school.

Some things [student] will learn about:

* Different cultures of the world, including architecture, language, diet, and dress, by visiting the different countries in the Epcot World Showcase (Japan, China, Germany, Mexico, Norway, Canada, France, etc.) [student] will have the chance to explore the exhibits for each country and speak with natives from each country who work as cast members.

* American history by viewing the Hall of Presidents presentation in the Magic Kingdom and the American Adventure show in Epcot.

* Nature and conservation at Animal Kingdom.

* Science by exploring the Mission:Space ride in Epcot where he will have a chance to see and feel what it would be like to travel by rocket to Mars and by experiencing the Universe of Energy exhibit which teaches about fossil fuels, energy, and conservation.

* Economics by managing his own spending money and making budget decisions on how to spend his money.

[student] will also be learning about map reading by navigating in and to the different theme parks, as well as the resorts and water parks via the Disney bus system, sociological aspects of crowds including patterns and behavior, physics of the different rides, breakthroughs in technology at the Innoventions computer lab in Epcot, art and animation and the history of film, and mathematics.

We believe this will be a wonderful and educational experience for [student] and hope you agree not to charge him with unexcused absences as a result. If it is possible for [student] to take any assignments with him to be turned in when we return or to turn in before we leave any work that will be due while he is gone, please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this. If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

[Parent's Signture]

I just sent this letter for my child even though I don't think the Principal will do it - she is MEAN!!!

That letter is ridiculous. People who send it are not going to be taken seriously.

If you have to pull your kids out, just do it. Don't try to justify it so much as an educational trip, because really it's not.

 

[LaurenT]

My 3rd grader is also going to miss 4 days in October. And she does struggle - but missing 4 days is still not going to make or break her.
We have 2 hours a week of private tutoring because the school does not offer the learning program that is best suited for Becky's issue, and she works for 30 min a day with a computer program to support the tutoring in addition to her regular school work.
I am sure she is going to wind up doing well this year and I am not the least bit concerned about her missing 4 days.

 

[goofy4tink]

We are taking our children, Dd17, Ddbf 17 & Ds 9, out of school for 7 days. Family vacation and family time are just as important as school time. We sent pre-excused absence forms to school stating we are going on a family vavation and to please provide homework. My son's teacher thought it was great and he can keep a journal. My Dd & her Bf got hassled but they are seniors and if they don't have it down by now they never will. Both are AP & honor students and will take homework. Our jobs make it impossible to do summer travel so this is my only option. I feel that I am the parent and have the right to take them out as long as they still perform in school.

Good luck,

Judy

While I completely understand that parents have every right to take their children wherever they wish, whenever they wish, it is not the school's responsibility to provide the future classroom work. Our school system allows you to miss up to 19 days a year, for whatever reason you wish..no reasons neeeded, no excuses. But, if a child hits that magical 20th day, there are repercussions....lowering of the grade. There are excused absences...illness with a doctor's note, funerals, college visits. They do not count towards the 19 day limit. But, even then, it is up to the student to get the missed work and finish it in the time alloted.
To expect teaches to provide work, in advance is presumptuous at best. If a family chooses to take an 'off vacation time' vacation, that is their choice. But the schools shouldn't be expected to accomdate it.

As always, this has turned into a debate on whether kids should be taken out or not. It's a personal choice & the OP has simply asked for help in wording an excuse letter....

It's really not so much a debate about pulling kids out of school. Everyone has an opinion on that. Parents should do what they feel is right. But, they need to stop thinking of a trip to WDW as being educational. Please...give teachers and administration some credit. They know you're going on vacation. CAll it what it is.
Perhaps homeschooled kids may take classes while in WDW, but your public school kids??? Doubt it..unless they are trying to get discounted park passes.

I really am not trying to be argumentative, but it gets silly to have so many people think they are fooling the schools.
Oh, by the way??? My senior dd is missing 3 days of school in Dec...as long as her algebra grade is high enough. It is my choice, and she will take responsibility for getting the missed work, when she returns, or she will text classmates and get it while we are gone and then do it on the plane coming home.

 

[rgf207]

That letter is ridiculous. People who send it are not going to be taken seriously.

If you have to pull your kids out, just do it. Don't try to justify it so much as an educational trip, because really it's not.

^This

 

[scdufek]

How about, "Dear School Administrators,
We are taking our kids out of school for ____ days from ___ (Month) to ____ (Month) so that the family can enjoy lower crowds and less expensive lodging at Walt Disney World, in Florida. The educational lessons of this family vacation will include:
1) economics - the importance of maximizing savings on family vacations
2) geography - the location, weather, and municipal infrastructure of Orlando, Florida
3) math - how quickly costs can add up for food, lodging and souvenirs
4) sociology - the diverse nature of people who attend theme parks
5) psychology - methods used by Disney to induce higher spending in their theme parks
6) English - grammatically correct signs and warnings on thrill rides
7) history - many Disney rides are based on myths and legends, and several are based on bona fide historical American artifacts and personalities
8) physics - actually experiencing positive and negative G-forces on several thrill rides
9) science - discovering the effects of dehydration and lack of sleep
10) foreign languages - hearing several languages in use by actual foreigners
11) biology - seeing, smelling, and possibly depositing stomach contents on the sidewalk after thrill rides
12) engineering - viewing and actually riding highly engineered thrill rides
13) astrology - examining and describing stars seen on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" in DHS
14) art - experiencing actual animation instruction and getting a back-lot view of motion picture production
15) phys ed - walking approximately seven miles per day.

I hope you agree that, based on this ___ week visit, my children should be awarded a bachelor's degree in General Studies from the nearest state college. If that is not possible, please provide instructions on how my children can complete any additional requirements of their regularly scheduled classes (as if their classes could possibly cover anything remotely as comprehensive as this vacation will expose them to!).

Very truly yours,
Mrs X"

That should get the ball rolling for you...