Unexcused v. excused absences

I know answers will vary by school & district, but what have your experiences been with whether a family vacation counts as an excused or unexcused absence from school?

We are tossing the idea around of pulling the twins out of school for 7-9 days in September, they'll be in second grade. I'm going to call their school tomorrow to find out what their policy is, but I thought I'd ask to see what the general idea is. I can't find any clarification on the school's website, the district's website or the literature they gave us when we first moved here.

The trip would be to attend two weddings a week apart so it's not something we could really do over the summer.

 

Our schools here are very understanding about absences. We don't have any set amount of absences that students can have before failing a grade and I have never had a problem with the kids missing for vacations, even 3 weeks or so (and I know several families whose kids have missed 6 weeks for big vacations with no problems). The teachers are great about giving them work to do while they are away so that they are not behind when they get back. Now that my older kids are in high school, we have to be more careful about them missing a lot of time, simply because it becomes difficult for them to make up all the work. But, even with them, the school has no issue with them missing class, as long as they can get their work done.

 

My son was in second grade when my parents came for a visit (we see them once a year, twice in a good year). We decided last minute to go to Disney for a few days while the grandparents were here. I told to Sean's teacher and she was completely okay with him missing some school. It wasn't "excused" but he wasn't in trouble for it either. Our school does have a 10 day max of absences or tardies, but talking to the principle, that is mostly in place so if a child is failing a class, and they are absent more often than not, they can legally hold the child back easier. Since our son is in the gifted class, he picks things up very quickly, so when he misses a few days it doesn't take him any time to catch back up.

I offered to take homework with us but at the time his teacher didn't worry about it.

Last fall Sean had his tonsils out (4th grade), I again offered to take some work out for him but all 3 of his teachers said not to worry, that he'd be able to pick up on stuff pretty quickly when he came back. He was out for 9 days I think it was. It was considered "excused" because we had a dr's note for his time out, and we told the school ahead of time about it. He was out more than 10 days this year, because of some sickness's and we took him out 1-2 days for family time, but like I said, there was no concern about him catching up again.

Definitely talk to the teacher about it, warn them (and then remind them closer to time), about your plans. Offer to take homework with you. I personally am of the opinion that a few missed days are not going to make or break your child's education And when it's something like you have, family time and weddings, I definitely consider that more important than the "No missed attendance" award at the end of the year

 

We are looking at taking the girls out of school for 3 days next year to add to fall break. Jazz didn't miss any last year and still did get an award

 

I always find it odd that they still give awards for attendance in the States (we always got them when I was in school there, too). Our kids don't get attendance awards, I think mostly because all of the schools here encourage us to keep them home if they are sick at all, so giving awards for attendance would be counterproductive to their goal of having fewer illnesses in the school.

 

Unfortunately, attendance is factored into whether a school achieves AYP (adequate yearly progress) and their overall ratings. You can never be a four star school if your attendance is below a certain percentage, no matter how well the kids do on the state's standardized tests. Schools in the states push attendance because it can hurt their "score", thus affecting their funding, their school growth, and the possibility of a state takeover if the school does not make AYP three years in a row. (I am just speaking for my state, don't know the specifics of other states.)

Yes, the states are doing a real number on our education system. Scary stuff.

 

A friend in BC's daughter got a perfect attendance award today. Though I agree with keeping them home when sick.

 

.We took the boys out of school the last 2 1/2 days of this past school year. They were out that Monday for Memorial Day, and were to go Tuesday, Wednesday and get out at Noon on Thursday. But we too were attending a wedding so it wasn't something we could control. DH's only brother got married Saturday June 2. DH wanted to actually see his brother before the wedding so we opted to leave the Saturday before.

As for policy...it is technically "Unexcused" for them to be out for family vacation. Only sicknesses, religious observance, and funerals are "Excused." I would argue that ...isn't a wedding a "religious observence?"...after all marriage is in the Bible! LOL! So the secretary said although she cannot "tell" me to do this, she said I could always call Tuesday and call them in "Sick" and that they would be out for the next few days...which were the last few days of school. It's not like they would miss any work...Grades had to be in the system the Friday before. So that is exactly what we did. They missed the Awards Ceremony ...William got Honor Roll...but we can pick up his certificate when school starts back. All thier teachers knew they would be gone, so we arranged to pick up thier desk junk and last papers that Friday before we left.

HTH!

 

I can't call them in sick because they'll end up missing so much time that they won't be allowed back without a Dr's note. I'd spend a full week back home, plus 2 days of driving there and 2 days back. So they'll be out probably 9 days, if I leave a day on each end as a buffer.

I don't think it will hurt them academically to miss that much school, especially if we take homework etc., but I don't want it to have some kind of repercussions in the long run. I am just thinking about when I was in school, we were automatically failed if we missed so many days. Then it was 10 days, so that's pushing the limit for them.

Thanks for the insights, as always!

 

I know even here in MD it really varies. In Frederick county where I am, we can take 5 days vacation each school year and it counts as an excused absence as long as a note is sent in within 3 days. This past school school year, we took the kids out of school for 5 days and went to Disney World last Nov. But once the 5 vacation days are used up, any other "vacation" days are counted as unexcused days. But I know there are other counties here in MD that don't allow any days to be used as vacation days. So, you really do need to check with your school district and see what their policy is. I know there is a policy here about so many unexcused days...something happens, maybe a phone call or something, but I'm not sure what.

 

I got a truancy warning after DD missed the 2 days before Thanksgiving break way back in 2nd grade. After 8 days of unexcused absences (and your trip would be unexcused here) you have to appear in front of the truancy judge. I wasn't overly concerned that year as I knew we were pulling her out to homeschool at the Christmas break. Now we take days off whenever we need them.

 

Vacation is an unexcused absence in our school in El Paso. In fact, they fought us to take the boys out for Take Your Child to Work Day. I would love to take them on a vacation away from the crowds, but I don't risk the wrath of the school. State funding for schools is based on attendance, so they are really, really serious about only being absent because of sickness.

 

Vacation is unexcused in our district and it is up to the teacher if she wants to send work. If you miss more than 3 weeks straight, they resign you from school and you have to go through the re-enrollment process.

 

Really?

I do know that they'll eventually take you to court if you get enough truant days in our county. This cements my idea of going on vacation in November. We're going because we're not going to be gone more than 3 weeks and it's only K. Thanks Irene!!

 

Our area I was told it was 10 days. Excused is only for a Dr. note-- if you stay at home with illness it is noted, but not excused. If you miss more than 2 days in a row you need a Dr. note.

I was told that at 10 unexcused days a truancy note is sent home automatically.

 

We have taken the girls out of school for 4 days of vacation nearly every year. they are considered unexcused and is up to the teacher if they want to send the homework ahead or not. We have never had a problem until this year when Zoe came down with a horrible cold taking her total days missed to 9, we got the threatening letter about going to court.

 

TN is very harsh. 9 days, for any reason, and you appear in court.

 

The only true excused absence in our district is a specific Religious Observance--like the Jewish High Holy Days. Passover would not be considered excused, since it is not observed during the day. Doctor's notes help if you have too many absences, but do not make them excused. They are allowed to miss 15 days total, which I felt better about once I realized Marcus had missed 9 days this year--a record for him!

 

I called the school around 11 and the office staff was at lunch. Took the twins to go swimming and by the time we got back, they're closed for the day. And apparently closed all next week.

If they are strict on the amount of days, then we won't go. The least they would miss would be 7 days, and I with it at the beginning of the year, I don't want to run into a truancy issue by the end. Unless we fly but then we'd have to rent a car and man is that expensive.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

Can you look the school district policy up online?

 

My mom (in her 60s) is still proud of the fact that she didn't miss a single day of school for the entire 13 years from K-12.

 

That's incredible!

 

Wow!

 

In our school if we take vacation we need to send a letter (the form is on the website) so that the teachers/principal can say okay or no as to if it will be excused or unexcused. From our handbook:

Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in district schools during the days and hours that school is in session, except that a principal/assistant principal may excuse a student for temporary absences when receiving satisfactory evidence of mental, physical, or other urgent conditions that may reasonably cause the student’s absence.
Students are expected to be in school, on time. The Board considers the following conditions to constitute reasonable cause for absence or lateness from school:
1. Illness.
2. Quarantine.
3. Injury.
4. Required court attendance.
5. Death in family.
6. Family emergency.
7. Family educational travel with prior approval.
8. Other excused absences if approved by district office.
A written excuse note signed by the parent, legal guardian or attending physician is required upon the student’s return to school. Failure to submit a written excuse signed by the parent, legal guardian or attending physician within three (3) school days of the student’s return to school will be recorded as an unexcused and/or unlawful absence. Messages left on the district absentee hot line are not accepted in place of the written excuse note.


Adult-Sponsored Tours and Trips
Upon receipt of a written request from the parents of the pupils involved, pupils may be excused from school attendance to participate in a family trip provided during the school term at the expense of the parents when such trip is evaluated by the district
Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee(s). Pupil participants therein are subject to direction and supervision by an adult acceptable to the district Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee(s) and to the parents of the pupils concerned.
The following regulations are applicable:
1. Absences for non-school trips shall not be excused unless a written request by the parent has been approved by the building principal. Such requests are to be submitted in a format developed by school officials five (5) days prior to the date of the trip.
2. Only ten (10) days of absence for nonschool trips during any school year will be classified as excused. Additional days will be classified as unexcused and/or unlawful and will be subject to the legal procedure prescribed by attendance regulations.
Page 36
3. Coursework missed during a period of excused absence to participate in a trip must be completed satisfactorily after return to school within fourteen (14) calendar days subsequent to the last approved day of absence. Given adequate notice of planned absences, teachers are requested, insofar as such is possible, to provide an outline of assignments for completion during the period of absence. Work submitted by students in conforming with this requirement is to be evaluated, without penalty, for late submission.
4. Absences from school to participate in adult-sponsored tours and trips may not be approved for students who are failing two (2) or more subjects; for students who are identified as chronic truants and/or, for students for whom a physician’s excuse is required.
5. Students who participate in non-school trips of educational merit shall, at the discretion of the teacher, give an oral or submit a written report concerning the highlights of the trip. At the discretion of the teacher, such report may be accepted in lieu of comparable course requirements.

 

Our district considers family vacation as "unexcused" absence. If you have more than 10 unexcused absences a year, the child is not allowed to advance to the next grade. But I do know a case where they made an exception for a second grader, who was absent from school for nearly a month. His sister has a rare disease and the whole family went overseas for a month to get treatment that is not available in the United States.

The school did NOT make an exception for my son's friend, whose family had to leave the United States for 2 weeks, in order to change their immigration status from visa holder to permanent resident. The family decided that getting a green card was important enough that they would risk their son having to repeat his grade. Since this boy maxed out his 10 day limit during this trip, the family made sure he didn't miss a single day of school for the rest of the year, even if he wasn't feeling so well. (And he had to make up all the homework and the tests he missed during his absence.)

 

I've had some quiet time (everyone in bed!) and I've looked more thoroughly through the district website. They appear to have a "strict" 9 day policy, as in they can only miss 9 days in a semester.

Specifically: "When a student accumulates a total of nine (9) excused or unexcused absences
within a semester, the student must have an excuse from a doctor or an official
agency (i.e., Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Children and
Families), for each subsequent absence. For purposes of make-up work only, a
partial day’s absence may be calculated in the limit of 9 days per semester."


It goes on to say that after 9 days, a letter will be sent home with the consequences of additional absences. I think I'm still going to talk to someone at the school but at this point I don't think we are going to make the trip.

 

I am not sure of our school's policy, but I would not pull my child out for more than 5 days for a vacation, mainly because they always end up getting sick in February/March and end up being out of school for at least a couple days. Plus the usual pink eye keeps them out of school at least once a year. So we'd quickly add up to 10 days. I don't know that our school has a policy per se, I just think 10 days is too much time.

In one of my DD's kindi classes, there was a girl out for like 5-6 weeks. She traveled to another country for a family wedding/long-term visit. I was really surprised at how long she was gone, but I guess if you are going to do it, kindi is the grade to do it.

 

You will be surprised how much a principal will work with a parent that is willing to 1) tell them ahead of time and 2) make sure the child does their work. Being that your kids are not in that high of a grade it really shouldn't be that big of a deal. If your kids were in higher grades (say middle school or high school), then it might be more of a big deal since the material is so much harder and being present in school is so important. I think, however, if you go straight to the principal and speak with them, they will work something out with you.