My Pre-K 3 student will be missing 2 weeks in June for family weddings. Will we get in trouble?

[Anonymous]

Our 3 year old will be missing 2 weeks of PK3 for family wedding out of state. A friend suggested he might be marked truant and potentially not able to return. Any truth to that?

[Anonymous]

A student can have 10 unexcused absences a year.

So if your child doesn't have any yet this year, you are probably ok.

The city won't pursue you for truancy for a PK3 student but if you are at a charter or OOB DCPS it can still be an issue.

Consult your schools student handbook.

[Anonymous]

If you have too many absences or tardies, you can be referred back to your in boundary school.

[Anonymous]

Why do people book travel first and then think about the consequences?

PreK 3 is considered school - not daycare.

Plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people book travel first and then think about the consequences?

PreK 3 is considered school - not daycare.

Plan accordingly.

wow! I am glad I grew up in a different time (sad for my kids though). My parents regularly took us on vacation during the winter - teachers gave us work to do, never fell behind and I can't imagine how much "learning" is missed in a two week absence at the p3k level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people book travel first and then think about the consequences?

PreK 3 is considered school - not daycare.

Plan accordingly.

wow! I am glad I grew up in a different time (sad for my kids though). My parents regularly took us on vacation during the winter - teachers gave us work to do, never fell behind and I can't imagine how much "learning" is missed in a two week absence at the p3k level

DC is different and one of the best indictators of student success is consistent attendance. You may be pulling your kid for something edifying -- and you would make sure your kid would do the homework. But not everyone in the city will. DCPS can't craft different rules for each kid and family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people book travel first and then think about the consequences?

PreK 3 is considered school - not daycare.

Plan accordingly.

wow! I am glad I grew up in a different time (sad for my kids though). My parents regularly took us on vacation during the winter - teachers gave us work to do, never fell behind and I can't imagine how much "learning" is missed in a two week absence at the p3k level

DC is different and one of the best indictators of student success is consistent attendance. You may be pulling your kid for something edifying -- and you would make sure your kid would do the homework. But not everyone in the city will. DCPS can't craft different rules for each kid and family.

Consider also that many if not most PK3 programs in DC have wait lists. Your family can schedule vacations during school breaks like everyone else, or you can give up your seat to a family who would be happy to send their children to school consistently and respect the school year calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people book travel first and then think about the consequences?

PreK 3 is considered school - not daycare.

Plan accordingly.

Kids should be in daycare and not in school at this age and missing it is not a big deal. The handbook might make it a big deal and some people here make it a big deal in terms of learning, but it's not and we all know it.The kid will remember the wedding and the trip more than 2 weeks of "learning" in "school".

[Anonymous]

If you're in-boundary, no trouble just some raised eyebrows and maybe a scolding. If you're OOB or at a charter, the school would be within its rights to your spot away.

[Anonymous]

There's actually no mandatory schooling until 5 so you won't be truant for that much time off for a 3-year old. Now, whether or not you need to take them out for two weeks for an out of state wedding is another question. That's a lot of time for a kid that young to be out of school. The adjustment back could be difficult.

[Anonymous]

When your kid is not in school you are wasting a valuable resource. You are also disrupting learning of other children as your child catches up or readjusts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're in-boundary, no trouble just some raised eyebrows and maybe a scolding. If you're OOB or at a charter, the school would be within its rights to your spot away.

This. Some schools - especially those with higher rates of absenteeism - are being monitored for their efforts to improve attendance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people book travel first and then think about the consequences?

PreK 3 is considered school - not daycare.

Plan accordingly.

Kids should be in daycare and not in school at this age and missing it is not a big deal. The handbook might make it a big deal and some people here make it a big deal in terms of learning, but it's not and we all know it.The kid will remember the wedding and the trip more than 2 weeks of "learning" in "school".

Then send them to daycare and pay for it. If you send them to public school, expect public school rules to apply to you, including rules about attendance.

[Anonymous]

It's Pre-K. Your kid is 3. How much "trouble" can you possibly be in?

[Anonymous]

a family wedding that requires two weeks away? really? it's disingenuous to use a one-day wedding as your excuse for your child being out of school for two weeks. You are making this wedding as a reason for taking a two-week vacation. Own it.