Ideas needed for kids' approval form for school About This Page:

[she-luvs-disney]

Hi All,

I am taking my children out of school for a week in October for our family vacation. Unfortunatley, value season is the only time we can afford to go to WDW since we have a large family. The school denied our request to take the kids out of school the last time we went in 2006. (of course we still went anyway). Altho I wrote a short paragraph on educational value of the trip, they didn't take anything I wrote into account. Now I have the same blue form that I filled out 3 years ago and am looking at the same paragraph. Could anyone give me better ideas to write for educational value that my children would receive from visiting the world? This will be our 2nd visit so I am not all that good at writing down what would be educational value that the kids will experience. We are driving from Pittsburgh to Orlando so that can be taken into account of educational value also. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Sandra Bostwick]

I can't believe your request was denied. What kind of school is that! I work in schools, and I've never heard of such a thing.

I'd focus on world social studies and geography goals for Epcot World Showcase and Animal science goals for AK. THey actually have plenty of centers through AK.

[feonag]

I dont think it matter what you say in the note. They will probably "deny" it anyway so I would not even bother explaining it. Just write that the kids will not be in school and the dates and leave it at that. There are no laws that I know of that say you can not take kids out of school for a vacation. You do whats best for your kids. If the principle wants to talk to you about it just say that your family is going on a vacation... end of story. You are the parent!!!!!

[tkm1005]

I also can't believe your request was denied. Why do you have to tell them where you are going anyway? You are taking a family vacation...they don't really need to know the reason behind it do they? Maybe that is the only time your family can go. Sorry that is just ridiculous...

But anyway you can talk about the cultural lessons at Epcot, the science lessons in Future World, the impact that Walt Disney had on the entertainment industry on a whole, learning about animals at Animal Kingdom, the social impact of how people behave in large crowds. Seriously what don't you learn at Disney!!

[MilyD]

What about the math of creating a budget and estimating drive times/fuel/food stops? Reading a map to find the quickest way/ the easiest way? As you can see, I am thinking of the drive...my dad didn't fly, so any vacation we took was in the car....

[SARH7]

Originally Posted by feonag

I dont think it matter what you say in the note. They will probably "deny" it anyway so I would not even bother explaining it. Just write that the kids will not be in school and the dates and leave it at that. There are no laws that I know of that say you can not take kids out of school for a vacation. You do whats best for your kids. If the principle wants to talk to you about it just say that your family is going on a vacation... end of story. You are the parent!!!!!

I can;t believe it either....I honestly think it's a money thing...schools don't get paid for days your kid misses. I too can only take value season trips for monetary reasons. Our school did not give us one problem last year. And those were the only days my dd missed the entire year. And that reminds me, I need to write a note and send it in to school...dd just went back this past Thursday...hated to bombard the teacher with that right away...figured I'd give her a few days to get semi settled before I started sending notes from home!

You could also add the conservation lessons from AK...with the movement to "Go Green", I know most schools in my area are making it a priority to teach the kids it's importance.

[Kynna]

The educational value of a trip has no bearing on whether or not we can pull our kids from school. We get a threatening letter every year that we can be taken to court for not bringing our children to school. It states clearly that family vacations are not an excusable absence in the handbook and that vacations need to be taken when school is not in session. We have heard of children being denied twice as many recesses than days missed for a trip to "make up work".

We just take the threats and hope it doesn't become anything more.

[jbd]

Sheila~ What happened when you went the last time? Did the school take any action upon your return?

Here are some things to keep in mind about mid school year vacations:
Schools have mandated attendance policies. For example, in the system I work in, if a student misses school for 30 days throughout the course of the school year--whether these are excused or unexcused absences, he or she will repeat the year. Schools themselves cannot say what counts as an excused absence as that is generally a policy created by the system or state. There are ways to bend the policy, however. For example, if the family is taking a trip to the Great Wall of China (which actually happened this past school year), that might count as an excused absence as its educational potential is more obvious than a trip to Disney.

Also, school systems have policies regarding work missed during unexcused absences. Again, for example, if a student has missed a test or failed to hand in an assignment due to an unexcused absence, I do have to allow him or her to make it up. I can count it as a 0.
A lot of these policies are not created by individual schools, either, they can be system or state mandated.

As a teacher, I have been asked to provide work for students who are going on vacation. When I do, I get a mixed bag. Sometimes I get the work; sometimes I don't. And sometimes, when students' grades are affected by their lack of work done on a family vacation, parents have come in and complained. How could the child have done the work on vacation? My response has always been "It wasn't a school vacation." I have always appreciated it when a parent has called or emailed me and told me the dates of their vacation about a week prior to the vacation. I have, in the past, been flexible about the work required during the child's absence. If I am given a reasonable heads up, I am more than willing to negotiate (not count homework for that child during his absence; instead of a writing assignment having the child keep a journal of his trip, etc.). It is, however, impossible to come up with alternate assignments when the student is standing at my desk at the beginning of my class on the day before he or she leaves for the trip.

People are right: You are the parent. If you feel that it is in your best interest to go on vacation in October, go. Those are the memories your children will bring with them into adulthood. Just keep in mind that while the school may agree with you, they have to follow the rules, too, and most of those rules were not created by them.

I truly hope you enjoy your trip!

[Wolfy6688]

JBD - what grade do you teach? I want to take my brother out of school to Disney next year. He's in High School. We'd be going in September, so things would be really just starting; not around mid-terms. He's smart and believe me, he WOULD do the work. But in your opinion, is one week enough notice to give the teacher?

[suzq62982]

I believe there is a generic letter on themouseforless website. Its a good strating point. Good luck!!

[jovigirlnj]

I have 5 kids and I didnt even know you were supposed to request vacation time!! I always sned a note in to their teachers just saying they will be out for a few days...

[Wolfy6688]

Originally Posted by suzq62982

I believe there is a generic letter on themouseforless website. Its a good strating point. Good luck!!

I found the letter - thank you very much! I think it will be a big help.

[HollyH]

Originally Posted by jbd

People are right: You are the parent. If you feel that it is in your best interest to go on vacation in October, go. Those are the memories your children will bring with them into adulthood. Just keep in mind that while the school may agree with you, they have to follow the rules, too, and most of those rules were not created by them.

I truly hope you enjoy your trip!

I agree with Jen. Teachers (and most admininstrators) are not the ones who make the policies. They have to follow the rules created at the district and state level. If your trip was denied before even if you provided evidence of educational value, chances are it will be denied again. The only suggestion I can make that might help is write a brief paragraph specific to each child, connecting what they are learning at their grade level to something you will do on the trip. For example, if your child is learning substraction, have him/her keep track of their spending $ by using a spending log. If they are learning to read maps, have him/her use guide maps to locate attractions they wish to visit. Older students may want to write a brief paper comparing/contrasting different parks and/or attractions. You get the idea.

Good luck. Family time is important and of great value, even if you don't get the official sanction of your district. Only you can decide what is best for your family. Enjoy!

[HollyH]

A few more thoughts.....don't forget to include each subject area your child is studying (reading, writing, math, science, social studies). And state what children will learn in specific, measurable objectives. For example, don't say "will learn about different countries", specifically tell how. "Will learn the capitals of Canada, France, Germany, China, Japan and Morocco." Feel free to PM me if you want/need more clarification.

[joker365]

I would take them into Innoventions or into Spaceship Earth.