Taking straight A high schooler out for trip?

[Saracpohl]

I know this is a continuing thread/topic on here, but I was wondering if any of you have taken your high schooler out of school for a week for a vacation, without any problems? We're thinking of going In may, when there's only a couple of weeks left in the school year. She'll be back in time for review of finals and actual finals. She's a sophomore, straight A student in honors classes. We took her out in 7th grade, without any issues.

 

[JennSmith]

Speaking as a High School Vice Principal and the person in charge of attendance, make sure to check with your schools attendance polices. Students can and will lose credit for missing more than the allowed amount pursuant to the policy. That lost credit will either be regained through online credit recovery classes at parent cost, or by having to take it again.

I know I have parents who complain to me about it, specifically when their child passes the class. However, there are state requirements that all districts must follow.

Do you mean in regards to the AP classes?

 

[aw14]

Do you mean in regards to the AP classes?

Actually any class. Each district is required by state to adopt attendance policies based upon state guidelines. The policies are quite specific for the following
-full year courses
-half year
-marking period, etc..

In my district, I always advise parents to get professional notes (doctor, lawyer, etc.) as those are excused absences. However, if they cannot, the child loses credit. Yes, I have removed credit because of vacations.

 

[JennSmith]

Actually any class. Each district is required by state to adopt attendance policies based upon state guidelines. The policies are quite specific for the following
-full year courses
-half year
-marking period, etc..

In my district, I always advise parents to get professional notes (doctor, lawyer, etc.) as those are excused absences. However, if they cannot, the child loses credit. Yes, I have removed credit because of vacations.

Oh okay so if our asst principal has already excused the absences then we are good. I thought you meant that even if they were excused they may not really be excused.

 

[aw14]

Oh okay so if our asst principal has already excused the absences then we are good. I thought you meant that even if they were excused they may not really be excused.

If the Assistant Principal has excused them, you are good. There is a huge difference between excused and unexcused.

Consider yourself lucky, as many districts will not excuse vacations.

 

[JennSmith]

If the Assistant Principal has excused them, you are good. There is a huge difference between excused and unexcused.

Consider yourself lucky, as many districts will not excuse vacations.

I do and I was EXTREMELY surprised considering I told them exactly what we were doing.! I just did not want to lie about it...not that I am some perfect human being but I knew if I lied, I had to also make sure my child followed through with that lie. I didn't want that, plus lying - you know...it's not cool lol.

 

[aw14]

thats great...now you can enjoy without the stress

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I wish Texas was more lenient. It's a real pain for us to plan a trip, summer is out because 1) drill team camps. 2) my parents always go with us and can not take the heat. Spring break is our because of drill team trip. So we are basically left with Thanksgiving and Christmas break so we go at Thanksgiving. I usually pull her out a couple days early so our arrival date will fall into the free dining plan dates, put like the other posters I hate to lie, I have even gone so far as to get notes from her doctor ( so I guess I made him lie, now I feel really bad).

 

[aw14]

In terms of AP test dates (bear in mind I taught AP for 5 years), the dates are our far in advance. Just check the college board site. Always a good reference for when planning a trip. Its always the first 2 full weeks of may, but this site will help in finding out when the dates for specific exams are.

 

[Saracpohl]

The AP classes won't be until her junior year. She's going to be a sophomore this year. I just emailed her vice principal, to get her take on it.

 

[aw14]

The AP classes won't be until her junior year. She's going to be a sophomore this year. I just emailed her vice principal, to get her take on it.

Good luck.

 

[DarthVader]

Thank you all for your responses! My daughter is in all honors classes, with 6 classes a day, not block scheduling. She is in all honors classes, but the AP classes at her school don't start until junior year, so I know next year would be harder to take her out. She is a very organized student who usually finishes her work ahead of schedule. Her teachers compliment her on her organizational skills all the time. I'm just hoping these factors work in our favor?

As I mentioned, I pulled my girls out of 3rd grade and it was difficult. Pulling high school kids prepping for college seems to be that much more difficult, regardless if they're honor students. In fact if they're honor students they'll probably be getting harder material faster, meaning the data loss will be higher if they miss a week.