Absence for 2 weeks - what to do about MCPS school work?

[Anonymous]

We might have to travel abroad for 2 weeks and we will return before the school year is over. This is not for a vacation.
My son is in middle school and does not want his grades to go down.
How are such absences handled in MCPS middle schools? Are points taken off because the student cannot turn in his work on time?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Leave your kids here with friends.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Yes, I thought of that! That would be one option, because he doesn't actually need to come with us.

However, not only would he hate it, but our good friends, who would take him in, aren't actually in the same school cluster, so it would be an imposition on the parents to have to drive him or deposit him at a bus stop.

Not impossible, though, I guess.

[Anonymous]

I would do it in elementary school but not middle school. Our elementary school does not allow work to be made up if its a vacation/voluntary. If its a family emergency they may.

[Anonymous]

If he leaves with you, this is an unexused absence. Lack of child care because you have to leave the country is NOT an excused absence

[Anonymous]

At our MS they do not allow you to make up any work you missed during an unexcused absence. I would find a way to leave him. Would grandparents be able to stay with him?

[Anonymous]

OP here.

To answer another PP's remarks, this is not a voluntary trip or a vacation or work-related. It will be an emergency, when it happens.

So I guess the question is, what constitutes an excused absence for MCPS?

[Anonymous]

It should be. Talk to the school.

[Anonymous]

It can’t be over a certain number of days or they will literally unenroll your kid. I have seen it happen.

[Anonymous]

Here is the memo from MCPS.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/jeara.pdf

Honestly, I would go the "stay with friends" route, unless you'd have them going from Silver Spring to Clarksburg or something. If you're talking going from one cluster to the next one, that is not such a hardship. It sounds like your son wants to stay here and learn/attend school and not have to deal with making up vast amounts of work (assuming you get an excused absence).

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t go this in MS or HS. Hire a sitter for drop off and pick ups.

[Anonymous]

Is this an emergency that would be cover under bereavement and thus excused?

Is your kid taking any high school classes?

Are you planning to apply to a magnet or a private HS?

All of these will change my answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here.

To answer another PP's remarks, this is not a voluntary trip or a vacation or work-related. It will be an emergency, when it happens.

So I guess the question is, what constitutes an excused absence for MCPS?

It is an emergency for you. NOT for your kid. Thus it is unexcused.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thank you 20:20.

Reading the code, this absence would be at the discretion of the Principal, and I an required to request it in advance (of course).

20:39, it is not a bereavement.
My child is taking Algebra 1 in 7th grade, which I believe is considered a high school class.
We are not planning on applying to a magnet or private high school.

[Anonymous]

Is a grandparent dying? Talk to the school. See what can be done to keep up remotely.