Taking kids out of school in TX?

[Huff]

Not looking to debate the ethics of taking kids out of school, plenty of threads on that!! But are there any parents here in TX, especially the Katy school district that have experience with taking kids out of school for vacation?

I have been told that school districts in TX especially Katy, TX are much stricter on attendance than elsewhere in the country. We have a trip planned at the end of this month and wish to bring our 13 year old niece for a week. She is a straight A student without any absent days in over a year. We want to reward her for improving her grades way beyond any expectations. It's the only time of year we can get away. I plan to talk to the school officials but wondering what others in TX have found when they have done this.

 

[tajz90]

Not looking to debate the ethics of taking kids out of school, plenty of threads on that!! But are there any parents here in TX, especially the Katy school district that have experience with taking kids out of school for vacation?

I have been told that school districts in TX especially Katy, TX are much stricter on attendance than elsewhere in the country. We have a trip planned at the end of this month and wish to bring our 13 year old niece for a week. She is a straight A student without any absent days in over a year. We want to reward her for improving her grades way beyond any expectations. It's the only time of year we can get away. I plan to talk to the school officials but wondering what others in TX have found when they have done this.

Texas is hard and it depends on the district. Your faced with fudging the reason for her absence or telling the truth and face no consequence or zeroes for missed work or whatever your district levels on unexcused days.

Our youngest is in high school and he has a two day absence rule. If he misses more than that, he has to take finals which could weigh negatively on his cumulative grade. Missed work for unexcused absences is given a zero, but I really think it would be up to the teacher to be understanding or not.

Good luck.

 

[momto3pirates]

We are in Houston. I will say that missing a week of school would be tough. As soon as they get back this week, they will start working on STARR test prep.

 

[czmom]

We live in Katy ISD. It is a very strict district.

 

[Huff]

We live in Katy ISD. It is a very strict district.

Do teachers or principal in Katy ISD tend to say no way? When she was in AZ we took her for a week. We prearranged everything. She did homework daily and on the plane before going to the parks. When she returned she was WAY ahead of the class on her assignments and the teacher sent us a note to thank us for making sure she got things done. Have you gone thru taking kids out of school in Katy yourself?

 

[MomofIndigo]

It really depends on what school. I grew up in Katy. Even then it was strict and has only gotten worse. Is she is at one of the newer schools? (ie Cinco Ranch schools). My BF is a teacher at Cinco HS and I asked her after I saw your post.

She said that principals and administration will tell you what the district policy is. She suggested talking to each of her teachers and then making the decision. I asked her what she would say if a parent asked her. Her response was "No way. My curric is tight to begin with." Apparently her kids will have projects even during breaks like Spring Break and Easter Break (science teacher) I dont know if that helps or not.

13yr old. Is that a year they take STARR or whatever they call it now? If so then I would suggest not to take her.

 

[momH2the4th]

I'm not in Katy, but a district very close to it. Any district is going to frown upon a student missing school to go on a trip, but in reality ~ it's middle school. There's no GPA tied to it. Of course the district is worried about it precious test scores (STAAR), but IMHO it's ridiculous what we're doing to these children with the stress of the test scores. I'm a teacher and I don't see a problem with it. If I had it to do over again, I would have taken trips during the school year when my oldest was in middle school and gone to WDW to see the park decorated for Halloween and Christmas. Now that she's in high school there's no way that much school can be missed.

Just my opinion...

 

[MSSANDRA]

We are not in Texas, but what we have learned may help. EVERY school, even in the same district is different and every administrator will interpret and enforce the rules differently. The problem is, if you ask the administrators at the school, you have pretty much blew any change of going without asking or them knowing where you are IF you would choose to go that route. I would talk to other parents in the same school and see what their experiences have been. I have no doubt that many parents do indeed take their kids out for vacations, irregardless of what the policy says.

I would try to get a copy of the handbook, and be very aware what her consequences will be if you go without an excused absences (maybe all 0's) and see if she is willing to deal with that. Are her parents involved? What are their thoughts and can they be helpful in gaining the information you need. We did take our older DS out in middle school but our district is very laid back with the vacation policy. I am of the thought that it's my kid....my choice....and would push even a strict policy, but it sounds like this child is not under your guardianship so you might need parents help to do that. Good luck!!!!!!

 

[sk!mom]

Katy Attendance policy... http://www.katyisd.org/campus/JHE/Documents/Compulsory Attendance and Attendance for Credit.pdf

The parent/guardian commits an offense of criminal negligence under TEC 25.093 if voluntary absences for 10 or
more days or parts of days within a six-month period or three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period
from school. An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. TEC
25.093, Family Code 51.03(b)(2), and Penal Code 12.233​

Or say she's sick if the trip is 5 days or less...

When a student’s absence for personal illness exceeds five (5) consecutive days, the student must return to school
with a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or other condition requiring the student’s
extended absence from school.​

I'm in a different Texas district and I will say that enforcement here completely depends on the Principal and the student. For a good (meaning good grades, behavior, everything) student with good attendance a short vacation would likely be excused. A problem student- absences/ grades/ anything- probably would not.

The Principal at DD's large high school took his two kids- a sophomore and an 8th grader- and himself out for a week in November to head to WDW. He was a secondary math teacher before becoming a Principal so he was confident that he could tutor his kids through anything they missed. He obviously would most likely approve a vacation for other families who demonstrated the ability to keep up/ catch up.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

At 13, are you sure she'd even WANT to miss that much school? My 13 year old daughter would not.

 

[Huff]

I'm in a different Texas district and I will say that enforcement here completely depends on the Principal and the student.

Almost all districts here in AZ have similar written policies. But I've always been able to work with teachers without an issue. The policies seemed geared towards dealing with extreme situations and not simply a child going on vacation. I've been told however that many schools in Katy ISD are intolerant in this regard which is sad. There are times when a child has no other chance to spend with extended family and I feel thats very important as well. When I was a child I was pulled out every few years but always did assignments, projects etc. during the vacation. Teachers always willing to work with me and my parents. On Tuesday when school resumes her mother will contact the school and see how it goes but not expecting much luck as we've had here in AZ.

 

[Huff]

At 13, are you sure she'd even WANT to miss that much school? My 13 year old daughter would not.

Oh yes!! She has some moderate social learning problems and tends to keep to herself and has a lot of trouble making friends. She has been severely bullied for years. She has learned how to ignore people that attempt to bully her and her grades have gone way up as a result. She's happier now but her spending time with us is something she constantly asks to do. She always returns home happy and does even better. We see her only once or twice a year at most since her and her mother moved away. She doesn't know she may go to WDW but is expecting to spend time with us which she would easily miss school for despite her being proud of having a perfect attendance record most semesters.

 

[mjkacmom]

At 13, are you sure she'd even WANT to miss that much school? My 13 year old daughter would not.

There is no way any of my kids would agree to miss a week of school, especially a few weeks after being off for almost 2 weeks for the Christmas vacation! Middle school (at least here) isn't elementary - teachers are not making up work packets to keep the kid caught up during their vacation scheduled during school. The most my kids have been taken out in middle school is 2 days (during a week when they had 3 days off already, so the teachers are not teaching to the full extent). It took over a week to catch up (and they're A students), including staying after school every day, or coming in early in the morning.

If you are rewarding her for bringing up the grades, I'd think of something else (perhaps a trip during the summer?). Rewarding her by taking her out of school is like rewarding someone who has lost weight with a trip to the all you can eat buffet - you will just be making it harder on her.

 

[Huff]

If you are rewarding her for bringing up the grades, I'd think of something else (perhaps a trip during the summer?). Rewarding her by taking her out of school is like rewarding someone who has lost weight with a trip to the all you can eat buffet - you will just be making it harder on her.

Thats an opinion and what works for some doesn't for others. I was a kid once to and I'm thankful my parents took me out of school for various experiences I could not have done otherwise. And we have take our niece before with great results. Summer is not an option. The only reason I'm going to WDW and have this time is because I will be there for business anyways so am tying it in.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Thats an opinion and what works for some doesn't for others. I was a kid once to and I'm thankful my parents took me out of school for various experiences I could not have done otherwise. And we have take our niece before with great results. Summer is not an option. The only reason I'm going to WDW and have this time is because I will be there for business anyways so am tying it in.

Schedule or not, I think you might have to accept that "before", she was younger and the older she gets, the more difficult it will be to pull her from school - even if school policy were NOT an obstacle (which it does appear to be). Sorry

 

[mjkacmom]

Schedule or not, I think you might have to accept that "before", she was younger and the older she gets, the more difficult it will be to pull her from school - even if school policy were NOT an obstacle (which it does appear to be). Sorry

Agreed - I did take my 5 out in elementary school several times, for up to a week. I miss those days! DH is staying at the Swan for 5 nights in a couple of weeks, but those days are over. One of my regrets is not taking advantage of it more when they were younger.

It was easier in my day - school was a lot less work (but don't tell my kids that).

 

[czmom]

Do teachers or principal in Katy ISD tend to say no way? When she was in AZ we took her for a week. We prearranged everything. She did homework daily and on the plane before going to the parks. When she returned she was WAY ahead of the class on her assignments and the teacher sent us a note to thank us for making sure she got things done. Have you gone thru taking kids out of school in Katy yourself?

Looks like sk!mom gave you the attendance policy. Unfortunately, I believe it is all automatically generated when the attendance clerk submits the attendance each day. From what I hear, it is pretty strict district wide. My kids are school age, but attend a private school (this is one HUGE reason why). Most of our friends go to katy schools and not many pull out....or just do and expect to pay the fine

 

[momH2the4th]

Again, you and your niece's parents need to make the best decision for her. Y'all know her better than anybody and know what she can and can't handle. Everybody has their opinion as to what is best for THEIR child. Personally, I know that my children could handle being out of school (before the high school years) to go on a vacation. Again, middle school has no ties to high school and a GPA. It is a time that is getting students ready for high school and study skills. Of course it's just my opinion and I'm not going to blast others on how they feel about kids missing or not missing school for vacations ~ it would be nice if they would do the same to you.

Good luck in your decision! I hope it works out for all of you!

 

[TexasNative]

On Tuesday when school resumes her mother will contact the school and see how it goes but not expecting much luck as we've had here in AZ

How did it go? I'm taking my 1st grader out for 4 or 5 days at the end of the month, and am interested in the district's response. I haven't notified her school yet, but probably will before we go.

I hope you're able to take your niece and have a great time!

 

[DollBabyKG]

Holy Crap! Reading this makes me glad I don't live in TX!

Granted our oldest is only in 2nd grade, but we take him out for 5 days every year to go to Disneyland. Currently planning a 2015 trip to Disney World. I'm sure the older he gets the harder it will be to take him out, but I'll be darned if the school is going to tell me what I can and cannot do with my kid! Last time I checked I'm his parent, and if I decide that it's more important to have 7 days together as a family when his Dad works 60 hour weeks, that's my prerogative. I hate how restrictive this country has become. Again, good parents are being punished for the irresponsible ones who can't be bothered to parent their kids. This kind of thing drives me CRAZY!

I hope you find a solution and are able to take your trip. The memories we make each year on our various trips will stay with my kids a lot longer than anything they'd be doing for a couple of days out of the school year. Good luck!