Mother charged with criminal neglect for taking her kid on a trip and missing school

[Anonymous]

I don't have any problem with automatic CFSA referrals when a kid misses a certain number of days. Attendance is important, and absences cause problems for kids and their schools. Truancy can indicate abuse or neglect and I'd rather have CFSA look into everything than let schools use their discretion--because if they have discretion, they're going to look more at poor and black families, when they're not the only ones who can be struggling (I'm thinking of a friend whose white, wealthy mom had a bout of psychosis and abandoned her for several weeks when she was in middle school).

In this case, though, the principal screwed up by reporting an excused absence, and it doesn't sound like the child had any neglect, educational or otherwise (he did all his assignments while abroad). No idea why criminal charges were brought.

But one other thing: the lady in the article now has 2 kids, one who was recently adopted from an institutional setting, and no job.

a) wish I had enough money for 2 international adoptions and raising 2 kids with no income.

b) she does not sound like she has any support network for what could be a challenging parenting experience. While jail is clearly not the solution, I hope she works on making connections to help her care for her kids in more mundane crises--like if she needs to go to the ER, car breaks down, that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She shouldn't have taken him out of school for so long. This wasn't an extra day off to go skiing. This was 20 days, and she should have made other arrangements.

Disagree. He learned more about himself on this trip at a core level than any school in America can ever teach him. He bonded with his new brother in a way that being kept at home with someone (who the single mother didn't have access to) wouldn't have allowed.

He basically got homeschooled for a little under a month, while he explored his roots.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The children described in these articles are older children. Are the rules different for PK3 and PK4 kids who have not yet reached the age at which school is mandatory?

Nope, once you're in school, you're in school.

I always tells that to parents at open houses who are treating PreK3 like free preschool. You are IN IT and have to treat school accordingly.

You can tell parents that all you want, but you are wrong. The rules ARE different for PK. There is no 10 day unexcused absences issue for PK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The children described in these articles are older children. Are the rules different for PK3 and PK4 kids who have not yet reached the age at which school is mandatory?

Nope, once you're in school, you're in school.

I always tells that to parents at open houses who are treating PreK3 like free preschool. You are IN IT and have to treat school accordingly.

You can tell parents that all you want, but you are wrong. The rules ARE different for PK. There is no 10 day unexcused absences issue for PK.

Is that true?

[Anonymous]

Thank you, DCPS, for never making me sorry I moved to Virginia!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The children described in these articles are older children. Are the rules different for PK3 and PK4 kids who have not yet reached the age at which school is mandatory?

Nope, once you're in school, you're in school.

I always tells that to parents at open houses who are treating PreK3 like free preschool. You are IN IT and have to treat school accordingly.

You can tell parents that all you want, but you are wrong. The rules ARE different for PK. There is no 10 day unexcused absences issue for PK.

Is that true?

Yes. There is no requirement to report you for truancy if your child is not in K or above. If your child is K or older then any absence of 10 days or more during the year automatically kicks of certain actions that will start the ball rolling. This is the case for DCPS and charters. They CAN NOT do anything prior to K as school is not compulsory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any problem with automatic CFSA referrals when a kid misses a certain number of days. Attendance is important, and absences cause problems for kids and their schools. Truancy can indicate abuse or neglect and I'd rather have CFSA look into everything than let schools use their discretion--because if they have discretion, they're going to look more at poor and black families, when they're not the only ones who can be struggling (I'm thinking of a friend whose white, wealthy mom had a bout of psychosis and abandoned her for several weeks when she was in middle school).

In this case, though, the principal screwed up by reporting an excused absence, and it doesn't sound like the child had any neglect, educational or otherwise (he did all his assignments while abroad). No idea why criminal charges were brought.

But one other thing: the lady in the article now has 2 kids, one who was recently adopted from an institutional setting, and no job.

a) wish I had enough money for 2 international adoptions and raising 2 kids with no income.

b) she does not sound like she has any support network for what could be a challenging parenting experience. While jail is clearly not the solution, I hope she works on making connections to help her care for her kids in more mundane crises--like if she needs to go to the ER, car breaks down, that sort of thing.

You have no idea what sort of support system she has within the community and are a pretty much a shitty excise fro s human being to pass judgmet im this manner. I wouldn't be comfortable leaving my child with even my closest friend for a month while I traveled to Mongolia or, for that matter, Chicago. Having a neighbor or friend watch your child because you have to spend the night at the ER is a different story entirely. This was obviously a trip of a lifetime for a Second Grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is insane. He should be fired.

No. He's been a great principal and provided needed continuity.

Not a fan. I've met him twice and found him completely rude.

Perhaps he correctly perceived that you were the type of churlish curmudgeon who would resort to talking smack on an anonymous forum if you didn't get your way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The children described in these articles are older children. Are the rules different for PK3 and PK4 kids who have not yet reached the age at which school is mandatory?

I've taken my PK kid out numerous times for vacation - no one cares at our DCPS.

My 3yo missed a week of school to travel to a family wedding, and even though we notified them in advance, we were contacted by the school social worker.

Really?? Was this recently? It contradicts what other PPs have said about the 10-day rule not going into effect until K. Worried, since my child in PK3 will miss a week of school later this month for vacation (vacation was planned almost a year ago, before we knew we were definitely switching from daycare to DCPS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She shouldn't have taken him out of school for so long. This wasn't an extra day off to go skiing. This was 20 days, and she should have made other arrangements.

Disagree. He learned more about himself on this trip at a core level than any school in America can ever teach him. He bonded with his new brother in a way that being kept at home with someone (who the single mother didn't have access to) wouldn't have allowed.

He basically got homeschooled for a little under a month, while he explored his roots.

I couldn't agree more. Likely an unforgettable time for this family.

[Anonymous]

Let this be a lesson not to disrespect the rules of the Public Schools of the District of Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is insane. He should be fired.

No. He's been a great principal and provided needed continuity.

Not a fan. I've met him twice and found him completely rude.

Perhaps he correctly perceived that you were the type of churlish curmudgeon who would resort to talking smack on an anonymous forum if you didn't get your way?

Well done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OSSE should go after the legions of parents in high at-risk population schools in wards 7 and 8 who bring their kids 2-3 hours late to school, if at all, and rack up 30-40 absences, or more, each year. A few miles but worlds away from Brent on the Hill. Those kids are struggling mightily just to read at basic levels and the govt turns a blind eye so when a white single mom collects the classwork and emails the principal in advance of her second international adoption, THIS is a tragedy worthy of our court system? and the guns go firing. So backwards, DC and OSSE. The net that failed Relisha Rudd isn't doing any better to protect kids when these sorts of stories come out - and the true stories of homeless, neglected, poor children missing large percentages of school years remain untold.

Special privileges for white people, I get it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let this be a lesson not to disrespect the rules of the Public Schools of the District of Columbia.

Fuck that. Indiscriminate and insensible rules deserve no respect.