Taking a kid out from school for a family event

[Anonymous]

My child will be in a Prince George's County public school (magnet program) next year.

My dad will be celebrating his 70th birthday Columbus Day weekend; and our family has a big party planned.

They live about a 9 hour drive away (we can't afford to fly). I would like to take a 4 day weekend to drive up, visit and have the party, and then drive back.

I just realized that "family event" isn't a reason for an excused absence; and also I just found out PG County doesn't even get Columbus Day Weekend off.

I'm really bummed. On the one hand, of course I respect school and know that kids need to attend and not take days of unnecessarily. On the other hand, this is my dad's 70th birthday, the whole family will be there, cousins and everyone else. My son is a good student, and i don't think missing 2 days will be that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

My mom suggests just talking to the principal and teacher, but the school district policy is pretty specific that "family emergency" doesn't count as an excused absence. I think they are under a lot of pressure to improve their rates of attendance.

I can't really just write an excuse and say he was sick because he isn't going to be sick; it's pretty obvious when you take off Fri and Mon of a federal holiday that you are taking a trip; and he is old enough to come back very excited and tell everyone about his big trip.

Has anyone been in this position? What did you do? Do you just miss the trip? Or just go, and have it not be excused?

[Anonymous]

The important thing is to go, whether you come up with an excuse or not.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Go and just make up the missed work.

[Anonymous]

OK, but what should I tell the school?

[Anonymous]

What's the worst that can happen if a child has a day or two of "unexcused" absence? Just let the school know, once-in-a-lifetime family event and you all need to be there. Child will do work in advance and/or make up work.

[Anonymous]

Yes, just go. I doubt an unexcused absence will make any difference on your child's record.

[Anonymous]

it has to be over a certain number of unexcused absences before it makes any difference. Just tell the truth, and go to your father's birthday party.

[Anonymous]

It will help the teacher is you tell her a day or two before so she can get some work together. Then, actually do some of it to turn in the day you get back. I always hated it when my students didn't tell me they were leaving and then took 2 weeks to get the work done that they missed.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in FCPS, but I have always just let the teacher know about 2 weeks ahead of time. I would send an e-mail saying "Mrs. X, FYI, S will be out of school on October 12 and 13. If there is any work that needs to be made up, we are happy to do it at your convenience, either before or after we get back. Thanks!"

And then the school day before we plan to be out, I send a written note to school for their records that basically says: "My daughter, S, will be out of school 10/12 and 10/13 for a family event." I don't give any excuses or whatever. As long as you meet the district guidelines for enrollment and your child is meeting all academic standards, then frankly it's none of their business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the worst that can happen if a child has a day or two of "unexcused" absence? Just let the school know, once-in-a-lifetime family event and you all need to be there. Child will do work in advance and/or make up work.

They could dismiss him from the program, which is something you get into only by lottery.

But I checked the regs and they say that could only happen after 3 unexcused absenses in a quarter. This would be the start of the second quarter.

[Anonymous]

Op again. I probably sound like I'm worried about nothing. But I think PG County schools has been having a big push to reduce unexcused absences and truancy. I'm sure it is NOT directed at kids who are taking an occasional day off for a family event, but are otherwise making find academic progress; but IS directed at kids who are repeatedly absent for no good reason. But it feels like they are taking a zero-tolerance approach. The school district alreadysent out an absentee policy flyer stating that "Family emergency or family event is NOT a reason for an excused absensce".
So I'm wondering if there are other poeple with kids in PG County schools who know if this is the case.

[Anonymous]

NOT a reason for an excused absensce

It won't be an excused absence, it will be an unexcused absence. Which your district regulates. As long as you stay within the guidelines, you're fine. I guarantee the school district has bigger fish to fry.

[Anonymous]

Personally, this is one where I'd be willing to lie. If the issue for the school is regulatory (NCLB, ADA money), I'd tell the story that enables them to classify the absence as excused. Here the function of the law is to provide economic incentives for a school to decrease truancy. The school shouldn't be punished because your Dad lives far away.

OTOH, if the issue (as it is with some magnet schools) involves the relationship between the kid and the school -- e.g. if you want to be in this high-power program, then you must make a commitment not to miss school unless you're sick, then I'd tell the truth. Yes, some days there are things you're willing to place above school attendance. Sounds pretty clear that it doesn't happen enough to risk your child's place in the program, so no problem.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't sound like you usually have unexcused absences. As previous posters mentioned, if you tell the teacher well in advance if you want work, and then actually do it, chances are everyone will be sympathetic and supportive. If you don't want work, just ask the teacher for his/her recommendation about anything missed, and be responsive to their response. Yes the county is under pressure about attendance, but you are not taking a ski trip or being a neglectful parent, you are making an important family connection, which will help you child in the long run. Don't lie, it only leads to problems and mistrust. The unexcused absence will be marked as an absence. No string of them, you should be fine. Talk to the teacher first if you're really nervous about it.

[Anonymous]

Agree with others that you go on the trip. Depending on your comfort level with giving the school an excusable reason, you could simply call it a family "religious" event. I don't know about PG, but in MoCo, religion is an excusable absence.