Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 09:09     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
Also, I love that you told an actual teacher, how it all happens for teachers. And then replied with gutter like grammar while questioning her reading comprehesion.

Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 08:59     Subject: Re:Unexcused absences for family travel
Anonymous wrote:We pulled our kid for a week to go to Europe. Unexcused at a charter. No big deal. DS then missed a few more days unexcused for travel. We hit 10 and just got an email from the school saying we missed this much unexcused days. That’s it. Maybe there might be a meeting if we miss more. Not sure.

But our kid is in elementary, high performing and we asked teachers to give us the work he would have done the week he missed school so he could do it.

It’s not a big deal, and I agree that the school and CPS is more concerned about neglect, abuse, etc..

Travel is a top priority for us and missing some days or week in elementary is not a big deal if your kid is doing fine. I guess I would be more hesitant if my kid was struggling. Once you hit middle and high school, it’s going to be more difficult for your kid to miss school.


This is kind of wild. While you may not think it's a big deal, please acknowledge your kid is sponging up resources and their absense affects other kids. It may look simple to you, but teachers having to gather up work for individual families and more importantly reorient your kid when they return is not "no big deal". They have to makes sure your kid takes whatever tests were given the week before, gets integrated into whatever group work is underway, etc. And so, your high performer is taking away time and energy that might go to kids with greater needs. Not to mention setting a tone for classroom culture that just kind of sucks.

And, the sad part is that you're right..you'll get a free pass while poor parents with real reasons for struggling to get their kids to school will get all the negative attention and phone calls.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 08:51     Subject: Re:Unexcused absences for family travel
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We pulled our kid for a week to go to Europe. Unexcused at a charter. No big deal. DS then missed a few more days unexcused for travel. We hit 10 and just got an email from the school saying we missed this much unexcused days. That’s it. Maybe there might be a meeting if we miss more. Not sure.

But our kid is in elementary, high performing and we asked teachers to give us the work he would have done the week he missed school so he could do it.

It’s not a big deal, and I agree that the school and CPS is more concerned about neglect, abuse, etc..

Travel is a top priority for us and missing some days or week in elementary is not a big deal if your kid is doing fine. I guess I would be more hesitant if my kid was struggling. Once you hit middle and high school, it’s going to be more difficult for your kid to miss school.


And I’m sure you thank those teachers for working with your family, right? You say it’s “no big deal”, but the teachers had to spend their time working extra to accommodate you. No, that’s NOT their job. It’s their job to educate the students who are there, not to create work and tutoring opportunities for the kids who aren’t there because of travel.

They may say “sure, no problem” directly to you out of a sense of professionalism. Then they are putting aside their real work (of which there is already too much) to accommodate you.

Maybe this doesn’t bother you. I don’t think it bothers most of the families I have to do this for, and all this extra work / individualized packets / after-school catch up sessions add up ton for me.


The teachers spent 2 minutes giving my kid the packet that they were going to work on that week. That’s it.

You have a reading comprehension issue. My kid is high performing and don’t need any tutoring and there are no tutoring or after school catch up sessions at our school. He would have done fine if he missed that week.

In fact, his one teacher asked if he could do a small presentation when he got back for the class. I sent her some pictures and he did a 5 minute talk about the trip and answered lots of questions from his classmates.

So guess his teachers were more organized then you and made a learning experience from it for my son and his classmates.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 06:57     Subject: Re:Unexcused absences for family travel
Anonymous wrote:We pulled our kid for a week to go to Europe. Unexcused at a charter. No big deal. DS then missed a few more days unexcused for travel. We hit 10 and just got an email from the school saying we missed this much unexcused days. That’s it. Maybe there might be a meeting if we miss more. Not sure.

But our kid is in elementary, high performing and we asked teachers to give us the work he would have done the week he missed school so he could do it.

It’s not a big deal, and I agree that the school and CPS is more concerned about neglect, abuse, etc..

Travel is a top priority for us and missing some days or week in elementary is not a big deal if your kid is doing fine. I guess I would be more hesitant if my kid was struggling. Once you hit middle and high school, it’s going to be more difficult for your kid to miss school.


And I’m sure you thank those teachers for working with your family, right? You say it’s “no big deal”, but the teachers had to spend their time working extra to accommodate you. No, that’s NOT their job. It’s their job to educate the students who are there, not to create work and tutoring opportunities for the kids who aren’t there because of travel.

They may say “sure, no problem” directly to you out of a sense of professionalism. Then they are putting aside their real work (of which there is already too much) to accommodate you.

Maybe this doesn’t bother you. I don’t think it bothers most of the families I have to do this for, and all this extra work / individualized packets / after-school catch up sessions add up ton for me.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 06:51     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We did this and made sure to tell the principal why we were taking DD out. Principal said “that sounds wonderful and if anyone contacts you from DCPS feel free to loop me in.” Then like others we got emails, texts, and robocalls reminding us that one more unexcused absence will result in MPD being involved. I just planned to show them the Shutterfly book of pictures from the trip if they ever showed up at my door. Which of course they didn’t because they have their hands full with actual truancy and crime.


PreCovid, they often showed up. Now, they're overwhelmed by truancy and crime and don't.


Umm...your vacation IS truancy! It is just done with parent permission.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 06:45     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
We just did this bc our kids spring breaks didn’t align. Pulled our graduating senior already committed into college. Submitted a few sickness forms and another excuse from the list. Still got the emails every night. Assuming they will be converted later to excused absences. If not, I’ve been told they won’t follow up anyway- we’ll see. I’m more worried about him making up the work, which he assured me he has/will. We’ll see. I wouldn’t advise the school in advance bc they’ll just make trouble, but hear your dilemma. Was more stressed about this than I needed to be.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 05:51     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
Anonymous wrote:We did this and made sure to tell the principal why we were taking DD out. Principal said “that sounds wonderful and if anyone contacts you from DCPS feel free to loop me in.” Then like others we got emails, texts, and robocalls reminding us that one more unexcused absence will result in MPD being involved. I just planned to show them the Shutterfly book of pictures from the trip if they ever showed up at my door. Which of course they didn’t because they have their hands full with actual truancy and crime.


PreCovid, they often showed up. Now, they're overwhelmed by truancy and crime and don't.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 01:07     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
1SWMom wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When the absences are unexcused, put together a variant of this father’s letter: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/04/28/boston-marathon-principal-letter/

Post it to social media and enjoy the ensuing 15 seconds of fame.

My Pre K3 student and I travel all the time, I had 10 by October.
I told Central DCPS I’m raising my daughter to be a citizen of the world and a student of life and not to call me again.
My principal, her teacher and the school counselor have said it’s fine.


Gross. Once you get to kinder, that's like saying ... "I told the police I'm going to drive as fast as I want because I have somewhere to go and not to pull me over again."

Who do you think you are?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 11:40     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
I hit 10+ days for family travel overseas as well. Our school's attendance specialist says that if you let the school know in advance and are in communication with them, they will have to flag the case to CFS but will include context and a note, so it won't "go anywhere".
They also advised us to consider unenrolling for prolonged absences (months) since we are in boundary and wouldn't lose our spot.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2024 11:21     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
We're ditching the Friday before spring break to fly this year.

That last day before Spring Break, there's no aftercare, half the teachers are gone, the day is useless and we've sent our kids so many years in a row for nothing.

1SWMom
Post 03/29/2024 10:11     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
Anonymous wrote:When the absences are unexcused, put together a variant of this father’s letter: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/04/28/boston-marathon-principal-letter/

Post it to social media and enjoy the ensuing 15 seconds of fame.

My Pre K3 student and I travel all the time, I had 10 by October.
I told Central DCPS I’m raising my daughter to be a citizen of the world and a student of life and not to call me again.
My principal, her teacher and the school counselor have said it’s fine.
1SWMom
Post 03/29/2024 10:09     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
Put in as many sick days as you can 4 consecutive.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2024 22:03     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
When the absences are unexcused, put together a variant of this father’s letter: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/04/28/boston-marathon-principal-letter/

Post it to social media and enjoy the ensuing 15 seconds of fame.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2024 21:58     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
Expect texts and emails letting you know you have X unexcused absences. That’s it. Look at DC’s truancy rates… they’re not worried about you.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2024 21:31     Subject: Unexcused absences for family travel
We did this and made sure to tell the principal why we were taking DD out. Principal said “that sounds wonderful and if anyone contacts you from DCPS feel free to loop me in.” Then like others we got emails, texts, and robocalls reminding us that one more unexcused absence will result in MPD being involved. I just planned to show them the Shutterfly book of pictures from the trip if they ever showed up at my door. Which of course they didn’t because they have their hands full with actual truancy and crime.