I think there is a huge difference between taking a PKer out for a couple of weeks in the middle of the year than missing the first week or two of a new school for an upper grade. I don't think that poster's experience should be particularly applicable to your case.

We took a 2 week vacation to visit family overseas during our DC's PK year at a well regarded charter. We explained it to them in advance and everyone was fine with it. What my child got out of the trip was definitely worth a few lost days of "abc-123". Agree its completely different when they are older but many parents took their kids out for extended vacations at this age and it was fine. And most teachers did not find a kid being gone for a few days disruptive but rather an opportunity to have a smaller class and focus more on the other kids.

OP here. Great with the direction the discussion has taken. I would not take vacation during school year when my kids are older, but as mentioned by others PK3 or PK4 is really just play-ABC-123.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this is a big deal for PK4, then I am shocked.

I plan to keep my PK3 kid home from time to time just for fun. Not for weeks at a time, and not every week or two or anything, but still. Not a big deal.

Why would you keep your child home on random occasions? It's disruptive to the teacher and to your child's routine. Are you one of those parents who will let their elementary/middle/high schooler stay home "just because" and then wonder why they have little sense of obligation or dedication or respOnsibility once they start working?

Your attitude is enabling.

Geez, when I was in elementary, we could miss up to 20 days a school year, and I would generally miss about 17 between illness and just needing a day off here and there. And I was always the smartest kid in my class.

Everybody needs a break sometimes, and I will definitely let my DD have 'personal' days!

^^ Please. These kids are 3 or 4, not 14.

I keep my 5 yo, PK-4 er home occasionally to spend time with me after I've been on a long work trip, to chill with Grandma, and if it seems like she just needs a little down time. She goes back to school refreshed, recharged, and reconnected-- isn't that better for everyone?

The rules are a little ridiculous for little ones, in my opinion. In most places, kids this age aren't in school at all. If I could have done a public part-time program for this age, we would have.

We need to give kids and parents some slack.

Anonymous wrote:If this is a big deal for PK4, then I am shocked.

I plan to keep my PK3 kid home from time to time just for fun. Not for weeks at a time, and not every week or two or anything, but still. Not a big deal.

Why would you keep your child home on random occasions? It's disruptive to the teacher and to your child's routine. Are you one of those parents who will let their elementary/middle/high schooler stay home "just because" and then wonder why they have little sense of obligation or dedication or respOnsibility once they start working?

Your attitude is enabling.

If this is a big deal for PK4, then I am shocked.

I plan to keep my PK3 kid home from time to time just for fun. Not for weeks at a time, and not every week or two or anything, but still. Not a big deal.

OP here. Thank you so much for all your replies. I will contact the schools to get informed about their policies regarding vacation. I hope they will accomodate since 1. it's PK4 - shouldn't be a big deal. 2. the vacation is to see family on another continent. But I do understand that schools get assessed on the students attendance.

Vacation is not an excused absense.
DCPS

policy concerning attendance for students attending Out-of-Boundary schools:
Beginning in School Year 2011/2012, students who have more than 10 unexcused absences or 20 unexcused tardies may be asked to return to their neighborhood school at the end of the school year.

? Elementary and middle school students with ten or more
unexcused absences will be referred to the Child and
Family Services Agency (CFSA) for suspected educational
neglect.

The "graded" part only kicks in in K when education is mandatory. Your school can't not follow their policies so just ask to see the policies and you'll be fine.

Sorry, hit "Submit" too soon.

4. Be advised that you're hurting your school, schools get "graded" on attendance levels, taking your child out for 10 school days ultimately isn't a good thing to do - for your school or your child.

1. Make sure the child is officially enrolled.
2. To be safe, don't do it before count day.
3. Tell the school what you're doing. If it's a trip that has some educational value or to visit family that live halfway across the world, they may actually be able to be accommodating.
4.

I think you would probably loss the spot, but here is my story.

I received a call for an upper grade DCPS OOB slot the Saturday before school started. child had planned on going charter, and it started in 2 weeks. We had plans to vacation for the first week of school. Principal told me they would hold the slot for one week IF I faxed in enrollment paperwork, including residency verification, that Saturday. This was a good not great DCPS school, a non-entry grade, where the school probably does not have tons of people calling to check on wait list status.

Took the spot, cancelled the vacation so child could start new school on first day.

No - just check your school's attendance policies. If you get push back from the admin just refer to the policy which probably has a large number of absences that you can accumulate before being kicked out.

... I took my 4 year old child on 2 week vacation during school year?

Do you think there is a difference whether it's a Charter or a DCPS? We are still on waiting lists, but pretty good numbers on both a DCPS and a few Charters.

Any feedback is appreciated.