given new, later, start time, can I drop my 4th grader at the (closed) door at 8:30?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about this-if a child is old enough to be out and responsible in public (like a 9 or 10 yo usually is)...then what exactly can MCPS do if a 10 yo is sitting outside waiting to come into the school? Its still a free country last time I checked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I hear ha. We are at a Tier 2 school so the earlies we are supposed to drop off is 9:10!!!!! For that reason, I now have to shell out $400 a month in before care. Thanks a lot, MCPS.

I'm a teacher and the bell time changes mean I now pay $1000 total for before and aftercare. Previously, I only needed before care.

Ugh, that sucks. You basically just got a huge salary cut.

[Anonymous]

I would drop her off at 8:30 or let her walk. Also would get her a cheap Tracfone for emergency use.

[Anonymous]

According to her FB, Free Range Mom got in trouble with the school for essentially doing this - except after school in the period between the end of the school day and the beginning of some sort of after school activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to her FB, Free Range Mom got in trouble with the school for essentially doing this - except after school in the period between the end of the school day and the beginning of some sort of after school activity.

A club at school? Usually those are right after the school day on purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to her FB, Free Range Mom got in trouble with the school for essentially doing this - except after school in the period between the end of the school day and the beginning of some sort of after school activity.

A club at school? Usually those are right after the school day on purpose.

Yeah, I didn't quite understand the post at the time, since school-sponsored activities at my kids' MoCo school start immediately after school. But that's what she said.

[Anonymous]

And remember that there are going to be some cold mornings that she'll be waiting out there. Plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about this-if a child is old enough to be out and responsible in public (like a 9 or 10 yo usually is)...then what exactly can MCPS do if a 10 yo is sitting outside waiting to come into the school? Its still a free country last time I checked.

A "free country" doesn't mean the school system can't restrict who is on school property at given hours. MCPS doesn't want children there before they're ready to open the doors because if something happens to them, there's not one there to help them or take responsibility for the situation. But the parents will sue anyway, costing the district a lot of money in defense. So yes, the school can tell you that your child can't be wandering the grounds before school is open for the day.

[Anonymous]

OP, when my son was in fourth grade, I just had him walk to school. If your DD is old enough to mill around alone outside the school, why do you need to drive her to school. Having her walk likely will resolve your problem in its entirety.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all of this because I find it truly annoying that some people don't think the rules apply to them. The school is staffed and ready for your children when they say they are. If you choose to ignore this, and something happens to your child, will you blame the school? When the temp drops to dangerous levels like it did this winter, will you blame the school for frostbite even though they told you not to drop your kid off so early?
Yes, it happens that people disregard the rule. It doesn't make it right.
Sorry, but you all need to pony up for before care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how they plan to regulate this. Children are allowed to be unsupervised (though not supervise younger children) at age 8 in MD. MCPS allows people on school grounds during time while school is not in session. So it seems that she would be allowed to be there. It they tried to restrict her from school grounds, it seems that they would have no way to keep her from waiting just off school grounds.

They are allowed to be left alone at home, on your personal property. Not on the school property. If you don't think that the schools know that this is going to be a huge problem this year (thanks bell times), then good luck. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of you getting phone calls from the school, and eventually CPS if you plan on making this your daily plan. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all of this because I find it truly annoying that some people don't think the rules apply to them. The school is staffed and ready for your children when they say they are. If you choose to ignore this, and something happens to your child, will you blame the school? When the temp drops to dangerous levels like it did this winter, will you blame the school for frostbite even though they told you not to drop your kid off so early?
Yes, it happens that people disregard the rule. It doesn't make it right.
Sorry, but you all need to pony up for before care.

Frostbite? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about this-if a child is old enough to be out and responsible in public (like a 9 or 10 yo usually is)...then what exactly can MCPS do if a 10 yo is sitting outside waiting to come into the school? Its still a free country last time I checked.

A "free country" doesn't mean the school system can't restrict who is on school property at given hours. MCPS doesn't want children there before they're ready to open the doors because if something happens to them, there's not one there to help them or take responsibility for the situation. But the parents will sue anyway, costing the district a lot of money in defense. So yes, the school can tell you that your child can't be wandering the grounds before school is open for the day.

Yes, the school can tell the OP that. But what if the OP (like many other parents) does it anyway? Then what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how they plan to regulate this. Children are allowed to be unsupervised (though not supervise younger children) at age 8 in MD. MCPS allows people on school grounds during time while school is not in session. So it seems that she would be allowed to be there. It they tried to restrict her from school grounds, it seems that they would have no way to keep her from waiting just off school grounds.

They are allowed to be left alone at home, on your personal property. Not on the school property. If you don't think that the schools know that this is going to be a huge problem this year (thanks bell times), then good luck. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of you getting phone calls from the school, and eventually CPS if you plan on making this your daily plan. Have fun!

They can be alone in public, though. School property is public, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And remember that there are going to be some cold mornings that she'll be waiting out there. Plan accordingly.

It doesn't really get so cold here that a 10 year old can't stand outside for 15 minutes. We don't live in Siberia.