Taking son out of high school for a week of vacation?

[Blondie58]

There are too many varibles missing to give a fully informed answer. Does the school system have a student vacation policy? What does the attendance policy say? Does your child have a good attendance record otherwise? Are teachers expected to do extra work to accomodate a student's vacation during a scheduled school calendar? Is there a missed work make-up policy? Can tests and quizzes be made up upon return? What importance is put on personal responsibility and work ethic? (School is a job in some people's eyes.) Is state testing done around this time? (Any final tests for seniors that impact graduation?) What is the culture of the school community? Is this sort of practice common or not? I would not have agreed to do this for my child BUT after asking many questions and knowing your son and your family only you will know what is right for your son and your family. The school should be able to follow the rules of the handbook that are BOE adopted and approved.

 

[TLSnell1981]

So thankful we do not deal with “a classroom is four walls”. Travel is considered to be educational and “work can be completed online.”

 

[AppleDumpling]

As for the public schools here, well, this would be felony truancy. You'll be explaining your child's absence to a Judge.

Wow. In my state and many others, you can legally drop out of school at age 16. How can they enforce that for older teens? A high school senior is usually 17 or 18. I think the issue here is more about the student meeting the state and/or school requirements for a high school diploma, rather than legal attendance rules (though there could be some overlap).

 

[monarchsfan16]

I work in a high school. Check the attendance policy, the band performance schedule and your son's comfort level. If all checks out, book that trip. If the last two years have taught us anything it should be that life is meant to be lived and it can change in an instant.

I work with the kids who can least afford to miss school. I've already had two go on family vacations this year with more scheduled and I'm so glad to see this happening. I celebrate with them, because for many this is the first opportunity in a long time, and it's so desperately needed. The school piece will work itself out.

 

[tvguy]

Wow. In my state and many others, you can legally drop out of school at age 16. How can they enforce that for older teens? A high school senior is usually 17 or 18. I think the issue here is more about the student meeting the state and/or school requirements for a high school diploma, rather than legal attendance rules (though there could be some overlap).

That is interesting. I just checked, you can't drop out in California until age 18. Or age 17 with your parents permission but only if you also pass the California High School Proficiency Exam, .

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

I kid, I kid, I took a trip my senior year that included missing a week of school and look how I turned out. What I'm trying to say is keep him in school...

 

[NYCgrrl]

I work in a high school. Check the attendance policy, the band performance schedule and your son's comfort level. If all checks out, book that trip. If the last two years have taught us anything it should be that life is meant to be lived and it can change in an instant.

I work with the kids who can least afford to miss school. I've already had two go on family vacations this year with more scheduled and I'm so glad to see this happening. I celebrate with them, because for many this is the first opportunity in a long time, and it's so desperately needed. The school piece will work itself out.

My opinion is 180 degrees in the opposite direction. The way I see it is school is the job of children and just as, if not more, important than the parents’. It’s a tad illogical to say in one sentence you can’t take a vacation due to job, sister can’t either because college doesn’t make allowances for WDW BUT high school son can. One of the lessons I learned over the last two years is

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

One of the lessons I learned over the last two years is

 

[NYCgrrl]

Ha! Didn’t meant to press enter.
The topic is just foreign to me and I’m sure all will get along fine without my thoughts.

 

[momz]

OP here. I have read all the comments and appreciate learning what your experiences have been.

That said, there are rumblings in the township about possibly going to online classes 1-2 days per week due to difficulty getting supplies to serve lunches! Our township has a very high rate of free lunch, so high that they just give everyone free lunch (and breakfast). But because of supply delays they are having to skimp on servings.

Also, like most other school districts, bus drivers are stretched thin, so who knows if there will be online days due to transportation issues. All this said, who really knows what school will be like in March?

In the end, I will take the advice to check into the band performance schedule and will book the vacation if there are no performances that week. DS will be thrilled to miss a week of school.

 

[LuvOrlando]

^ Good for you! That's your kid, do as you see fit, smiles and nice memories are important and pull us through.

 

[Gracedis1]

Is your son going to visit colleges? Our high school gives days off for college visits, and you can request days off for vacation too. Almost all homework is put on Google classroom so it's easy to keep up with the work. I say go for it as long as your kid hasn't had a lot of absences.