Thoughts on when to take kids out of school

[WDWfor5]

I know this is a hot topic, so I'll preface this with telling you that I have always taken my DD (now in 2nd grade) out of school for vacation for at least 1 week and I plan to continue indefinetely. She is far ahead academically and her teachers and the district have no problem with me doing so. So please don't flame me or suggest she shouldn't miss school as that's not my question.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way , my question is this: we always go on vacation at the end of January/ begining of Feb. and just got back in fact from Atlantis. My problem is that next year, DD will be in 3rd grade and the standardized tests are given at the beginning of March and I'm wondering if my regular vacation is at a bad time. I'm considering doing a Halloween vacation instead and it might be better for school purposes but we will definetely miss getting away from the cold and I own my own business and it's busier in the Fall so we'd need to stay in touch via cell more than in the middle of winter which is a drag

So, what do you think parents and teachers of kids who have been through testing? Is it a terrible idea to take a 3rd grader out 4-6 weeks before her first state test or not such a big deal?

TIA

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi!

I'm a 1st grade teacher who pulls her kids out every May for 6 school days for a WDW trip. Last year, we took 2 trips, & they missed 5 or 6 days in Jan. also. It works out great for us because my kids are great students & the schools don't have a problem with it.

I, personally, think early May is a great time to go...weather wise/crowd wise, in WDW.

I would not pull my kids out right before any testing.
At least here in Md., by May the testing is over for my kids this year.
(That may be a problem for us next year, when DD goes to high school).

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We take DD ( this will be the last year as she starts HS and I really have to see where she falls in.

We love Oct but we do watch for the testing times and don't plan around those times. It's nice to go right after the testing as it does give them a break.

I think DD works harder as she knows she won't be going if her grades are not up.

 

[maciec]

Does your county have a web site for the school? Why I ask is because our county has their school calendar on-line which has helped me immensly. I have been looking at it to decide when to take dd out of school. We are probably going to take her out during October during one week when they have a day off for the teachers Professional Day. That way it's just one less day that she has to miss.

 

[minnierocks]

We pull our kids out the week of Thanksgiving...
They only miss 3 days and not a whole lot goes on that week anyway!

 

[JESW]

Why not just move your vacation time back a couple of weeks so it is not right before the testing? Like right after the New Year? We were at WDW 1/19 - 23 and the crowds were very managable and the weather was good. You could still escape from the cold but be back in plenty of time for your dd to get ready for the testing.

Jill

 

[bethbuchall]

I think that 4-6 weeks is far enough away from the testing to not be a major concern. I recommend asking her teacher about it. Even though he/she is not involved in the state testing, I'm sure that he/she knows how the teachers a grade level up would feel about it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I really think you would be ok. What I would do is to be sure that the teacher will not introduce any new math concept during that week and if so be sure that you help your child with that concept at home. March is eary for EOG testing so new concepts might still be introduced that late. We truly love early to mid January (avoiding MLK week-end ) so backing up just a little might be a good idea.

Good luck and have a blast!!!!!

 

[mericletwins]

I know this is a hot topic, so I'll preface this with telling you that I have always taken my DD (now in 2nd grade) out of school for vacation for at least 1 week and I plan to continue indefinetely. She is far ahead academically and her teachers and the district have no problem with me doing so. So please don't flame me or suggest she shouldn't miss school as that's not my question.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way , my question is this: we always go on vacation at the end of January/ begining of Feb. and just got back in fact from Atlantis. My problem is that next year, DD will be in 3rd grade and the standardized tests are given at the beginning of March and I'm wondering if my regular vacation is at a bad time. I'm considering doing a Halloween vacation instead and it might be better for school purposes but we will definetely miss getting away from the cold and I own my own business and it's busier in the Fall so we'd need to stay in touch via cell more than in the middle of winter which is a drag

So, what do you think parents and teachers of kids who have been through testing? Is it a terrible idea to take a 3rd grader out 4-6 weeks before her first state test or not such a big deal?

TIA

Yes, terrible idea I think. I am a teacher and I tell my parents at open house to try and not schedule anything that will take the kids out of school from January till March. The week after the test would be a good time to go. Also April and May. October, November and December also good. I would vote for March after the test though. I am from NJ and I can't stand March. It is usually so cold and miserable still and I just want warmth and sunshine!

 

[bkaz]

We just returned from WDW (Feb 3-10) and our daughter is in 3rd grade with testing coming up in late March. Her teacher did not have a problem with it at all, and is not concerned about her testing. We asked if early February would be okay and she said it was fine. There was one math topic (products and factors) discussed and she just made sure we took the time while we were gone to discuss it with her and do a few worksheets. I said this would be our last time to take her out, but on the way home I said to DH "do you think she could do it in 5th grade" because I just can't imagine going in summer when we are accustomed to the low crowds of winter!

 

[JoyG]

As a teacher, it would be a huge deal if a parent took a child out while I was prepping for state tests.

I don't know how it works in your district, but at 6-8 weeks out we are doing test practice in our district and it's important not to miss it.

I would suggest going after the test.

 

[writersblock42]

I would say down times would be right before Christmas, late May and early June. So May is ideal I think..late May plus it is warm-really nice time to go.

 

[WDWfor5]

Thanks for all the replies - I think I may have to move the trip to October to avoid testing just top be on the safe side For me & DH. mid February - September is our busy time at work and a vacation would not be okay - it would mean much lost business.

My problem with asking the teachers, is that I'm on the school board and they mostly tell me what they think I want to hear Maybe I'll ask the principal - we get along well and he's always totally honest with me.

On the upside, it means my trip is sooner and I can start planning in earnest without my DH thinking I'm totally

Thanks

 

[mericletwins]

Thanks for all the replies - I think I may have to move the trip to October to avoid testing just top be on the safe side For me & DH. mid February - September is our busy time at work and a vacation would not be okay - it would mean much lost business.

My problem with asking the teachers, is that I'm on the school board and they mostly tell me what they think I want to hear Maybe I'll ask the principal - we get along well and he's always totally honest with me.

On the upside, it means my trip is sooner and I can start planning in earnest without my DH thinking I'm totally

Thanks

I would move it. It is better to be safe I think, and make sure not to miss new concepts that could be/are on the state test. If for some reason you were not able to move it to the fall, then I would say the first week or two in January. You want to be as far removed from the testing as possible. In our district we really start hitting the testing concepts hard as soon as we come back from Christmas break. I agree with your upside....shorter countdown!

 

[hollyb]

We wanted to take the kids out the first friday of May, but that day is the last day of 3rd grade testing. So we changed our plans. No biggie. We want to work with the school schedule to make every ones life eaiser.

 

[WeCantWait]

Funny I am facing the same thing right now. We always vacation at the end of January and take the kids out of school for the week. My oldest will be entering third grade in September and taking the standardized tests. We have decided to change our vacation week to October. I would much rather vacation during the cold winter but I think changing our vacation week is the best choice for us at this time.

My son is an excellent student but I do not want him to miss out on all of the preperations for those tests.

 

[Marmstrong]

We were thinking about an early May trip (I'm college prof, I get done May 11) but that's just a week before the state testing in NC. So we're taking my 2nd and 5th graders out next week for 3 days (during my spring break). My breaks only overlap with the childrens' at Christmas and the middle 2 weeks of August (I work 12 months...part time admin).

Our principal readily approved the absence as "excused for valid educational purpose" his email back to me when I checked today said "have fun".

As an educator, I'm sensitive to people being gone from classes so I've been real careful to notify teachers in advance and ask for as much work as possible BEFORE we go. DS (11) has a project that he would be working on at the end of next week if he were home...we're going to make him do it and turn it in BEFORE we leave! Because we're leaving on a Tuesday, the teachers are willing to give us assignments next Friday so kids can complete next weekend.