PineFarmMom Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Ds' best friend goes to the ps here in town. He is a 4th-grade straight-A, gifted-and-talented student. His TAKS scores are awesome. He has missed quite a bit of school this year, mostly due to sickness, some due to some days they just didn't get there (I think his mom said they had 4 or so days like this, and she admits she failed on that end). Anyway, she is being taken to court by the school system and is potentially/probably going to be fined for it. I heard $500, but I'm not going to quote that amount because that came through children, and I forgot to ask her about that sum of $$. Anyway, the school district is doing this because each day a child doesn't come to school the system doesn't get the certain amount of $$ for that particular child. I'm just...appalled!! IF he was failing or doing poorly as a result of these missed days, I think I'd possibly...that is a big "possibly" feel differently, but he's undeniably ahead in school. It just. makes. me. so angry!! Ummm, last I checked, she DOES pay for her son to go to school...it's called taxes. GRRRR. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 I haven't heard of it before, so I wouldn't say it was typical. (Then again, I don't think my kids' school is typical either.) Is this a big problem in the district? Are they losing a lot of money because of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineFarmMom Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 If they are, I don't know. It was the first I had heard of it...I just think it's wrong!!! T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 ... I have heard that schools around here are "cracking down" on truancy. I think that if a child is not in attendance for a certain number of days for the year, then the following year they don't get their money for that kid. At least, that's what I've heard. It's not something I've looked into. The problem here where I live is mostly with high school kids dropping out, and people are trying to find ways to coerce them into staying (bribing them with driver's permits and such). My thought is improve the schools and the kids will WANT to stay there, but no one seems to care what I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey in TX Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Yes, it's true.. Our final reason to hs was when our straight-A 5th grader would possibly have to repeat his grade b/c of too many absences (5 for flu, 5 for academic trip to Italy, and inevitably additional sick days). PLEASE! This is ludicrous and reprehensible to threaten or penalize a great student for not taking his seat in class. FWIW, the TAKS is another PITA ridiculous issue. ARGH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 An excused absence means a note from the doctor/dentist/whomever to prove that your child had a valid reason for missing school. That means if Johnny wakes up with a 101* fever you have to take him to the doctor and pay a hefty copay (at the least) to tell you that he probably has a virus which you knew anyway. Suzy throws up during the night; if you don't want that unexused absence on the record you have to take her to the doctor to tell you that she probably has a little stomach bug or ate something that didn't agree with her. I have known several people for whom this was a problem simply because they didn't feel the need to take their child into the doctor for every absence to be verified. With the exception of one, these weren't people who were just randomly missing school. That one has a husband who travels frequently and they went with him on a trip to France during the school year whil Suzy was in 1st grade. Little Suzy was doing just fine and probably learned more in her trip than she ever possibly could have with the 5 days she missed of school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancypants Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 It seems like if they wanted to do this that the parents would have had to sign something at the beginning of each school year stating that they knew this. Sounds like a private school type of policy that parents would be fully knowledgeable of and in agreement with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paula j Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Yes, it's true. My 17 yo dd missed over her limit due to her grandpa dying and then she was out with mono for two weeks with a drs excuse of course. They were going to take her credits, including those for the 3 dual credit college courses she was taking and I had to argue her case before the school board or she would have had to repeat her Jr year and I would have been out over $1000 in college courses.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 I think here, the police meet with the parents and child first and tell them that if the child misses any more days, the parents will lose custody of the child. I actually had this happen to a kid in my seventh grade class when I was teaching. I sat in on the meeting. The meeting with the police didn't happen until he had missed 15 days. He just didn't like going to school. This is in VA btw, where a child gets ten absent days, however most counties make it super easy to homeschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margo out of lurking Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Yes, it is not unusual. The funny thing is that I voluntarily enrolled my dd in a part time hs program through a local ps (charter) school in Colorado. I received a letter from the school saying that she'd missed enough days that she might not be able to move ahead to the next grade the following year. It was so ridiculous. And we did end up withdrawing the following year. :) It's sad to think how much of it comes down to finances for the school... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamasteff Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 We have several friends who have received very threatening-looking, official letters because their children were late to school more than 5 times. I have also heard of fines or threats of legal action. One public charter/ "virtual academy" has NO excused absences. The thought is, if you are home anyway, you can do SOMETHING. I understand that for most things, but you can't tell a kid with a stomach bug to read, or do much of anything, if they are that ill. The response? "Let them watch some educational television and discuss it with you for that day." ?!?!I believe their "no excused absences" policy is because their budget is so closely tied to average daily attendance figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 here too except they were threatening and have followed through on jail time for parents if they kids aren't in school. But, I have to say that I'm more in agreement with the school than the parent in this case. I've always had kids in public school even while I was homeschooling -- that's my perspective. I just think that if you start excusing or justifying that it is okay for this student to miss school because he's ahead than what do you say about the teen ager who may have passed every test who is hanging out with friends during school time several days per week because his parent's aren't at home and don't have a clue as to what he's (or she) is doing? What about the child, who is not keeping up with the school curriculum because of learning disabilities and the parents keep taking their child on vacation -- and then sue the school board because he's not keeping up in school? What about the student who gets dropped off at school and then when it is time for the parent to come pick them up the student isn't at school and is told -- well your child has missed so many days that we have stopped counting on him being here so we didn't call you when he wasn't in class -- come to find out that the child was kidnapped. (this is actually based on a true story except for the repeated not showing up at school). I guess I also see that some of these messages imply that only the smart kids have a right to go on vacations and miss school. Yes, some of these are exaggerations but then again, you have a school who is responsible for these kids and no easy way to track them if they aren't in school. The state/county has laws about who has to attend school and if you are going to send them to school isn't it important for you as parents to follow those rules. Now, if you want to homeschool and be completely responsible for your child's education than that is your choice to make. Yes, the occasional vacation or missed day is fine. Extended illness talk to the school but not getting to school because it was too hard to get out the door. That to me isn't putting education first. I do realize that public and private schools have their issues and aren't perfect but at the same time excusing this parent because their child is ahead, gifted or intelligence isn't fair to the teacher or rest of the students. What happens if this bright student misses a topic he/she doesn't understand and goes to the teacher for more help because they missed class. Now the teacher has to do extra work to help this student all because the parents made the choice not to send their child to school that day. I'm not a teacher and I support and love the freedom that homeschool offers so I'm not attacking homeschooling. Just sharing a different perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigitte Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 A friend of mine is going through the same thing with her 8th grader here in NC. Straight A, all honors courses, etc. student....It boggles the mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kay in Cal Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Yes, some of these are exaggerations but then again, you have a school who is responsible for these kids and no easy way to track them if they aren't in school. The state/county has laws about who has to attend school and if you are going to send them to school isn't it important for you as parents to follow those rules. Now, if you want to homeschool and be completely responsible for your child's education than that is your choice to make. Yes, the occasional vacation or missed day is fine. Extended illness talk to the school but not getting to school because it was too hard to get out the door. That to me isn't putting education first. I disagree. It is the parents who are responsible for their kids, whether they go to public school or not. I went to public school for much of my childhood. If I wasn't learning anything there (often the case) my parents had no qualms about travelling with me. Some of my best memories are accompanying my mom on business trips to Russia, German, all over Scandinavia--we lived in Oslo. I missed a lot of school, but it never affected me academically. She worked full time and would never have even considered homeschooling if she had even known it existed, but she always "put education first". That's why I was allowed to travel so much! If the schools were "responsible" for me, then they would have taught me at an appropriate level. They never did. So my parents did the best they could to provide an education beyond what the schools offered. I'm never big on rules for rules sake... blind legalism is just a way of not having to deal with the underlying causes. Preventing violence is a good goal, but expelling children for bringing plastic forks is ridiculous. Similarly, getting a good education is a good goal, but enforcing rules that are used to prevent children from learning (no travel, etc) is also ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 The school can and many will do it. I have heard of it plenty. I am in Texas...in the DFW area. What district is your friend in? Tell her she needs to deny failing to take her child in. Tell her to claim he had a fever the night before. I know..sad to lie..but then again..even in the bible, sometimes, there was a lie or otherwise to save the righteous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 My ds was in the gifted classes, straight A student.* He didn't attend school for 2 days.* We went out of town for a funeral.* I didn't ask permission from the school.* I received a truancy letter if he missed another day without the schools permission I would have to go to court appointed parenting class.I took the letter to the school ask if this was right. They said it was the policy.* The state has the best interest of the child.* They need to account for the where abouts of each child during school hours.* Well I said excuse me who is the parent.* We did a immediate withdrawl and put both children in private school.* We did choose to home school mainly because the private school just couldn't give my ds what he needed.* I would absolutely never put my children in a socialist school system again.* That is what it amounts too.* The state owns your child thats what compulsory attendance is all about. I guess you can tell it stills makes me mad and it was 5 year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
at the beach Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 The state owns your child thats what compulsory attendance is all about. :iagree: That, and $. I believe that a child's education is a parent's responsibility whether a child is in school or homeschooled. I hated how the school had so much control over us when my kids were in ps. I never had any problems getting absences excused, but it was just the fact of having to give explanations. I know they need to have consistent attendance for the most part, but sheesh, it was a little ridiculous IMHO. I preferred private school, where there was no issue with pulling your kid out for a vacation. Private did not meet my youngest child's needs. Turns out, neither did public and now both my youngest are homeschooled. So, it all worked out for us. I am so grateful for our freedoms, but I worry when I hear about how far schools are going with stuff like this. How much longer before they decide they don't just want the daily $ allotment from the kids enrolled in school, but want ALL kids in school, no exceptions? I'm curious about the fact that Texas is so easy a state to homeschool in but it sounds like their rules regarding school attendance are very restrictive. Anita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 I'm really not surprised. My son attended a full day, non-mandatory kindergarten at a public school. He knew how to read, add, subtract, tell time, etc. before the year even started because I taught him at home. At the end of the year, the school called me to let me know that he probably wouldn't be allowed to progress to the 1st grade because of too many absences. Of course I threw a fit since kindergarten in that state was optional, and besides, most of the days he missed were because the school called me and requested that I pick him up even though he wasn't sick - he just didn't want to be there! Ugh! After my tirade they graciously allowed him to move up to the next grade. We started homeschooling not long after that. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 That sounds insane. Just another reason to add to my list of "why I love homeschooling". :glare: My sentiments exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 The school can and many will do it. I have heard of it plenty. I am in Texas...in the DFW area. What district is your friend in? Tell her she needs to deny failing to take her child in. Tell her to claim he had a fever the night before. I know..sad to lie..but then again..even in the bible, sometimes, there was a lie or otherwise to save the righteous. Who lied in the Bible? I remember the woman who hung the red cord and saved all of her friends/family....she lied prior when the guards came and she had the Jews stashed inside. Her name? Starts with an R? Anyone else know? I do know she has lineage to Jesus. But I can't remember anyonelse off the top of my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 When I worked for a local attorney, we had a case where both parents were put in jail because the school kept sending the child home because of bathroom troubles. So the child missed X number of days and they arrested the parents for it when it was the school's fault because he had changes of clothes at school. Yes, they do this. You can get heavy fines, jail time and charges of child neglect and possibly lose custody of your children for a while if you really have problems getting them to school.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 My ds was in the gifted classes, straight A student.* He didn't attend school for 2 days.* We went out of town for a funeral.* I didn't ask permission from the school.* I received a truancy letter if he missed another day without the schools permission I would have to go to court appointed parenting class.I took the letter to the school ask if this was right. They said it was the policy.* The state has the best interest of the child.* They need to account for the where abouts of each child during school hours.* Well I said excuse me who is the parent.* We did a immediate withdrawl and put both children in private school.* We did choose to home school mainly because the private school just couldn't give my ds what he needed.* I would absolutely never put my children in a socialist school system again.* That is what it amounts too.* The state owns your child thats what compulsory attendance is all about. I guess you can tell it stills makes me mad and it was 5 year ago. Aparently so! But I got mad just reading it so I can imagine! UN.BE. LIEVABLE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Her name? Starts with an R? Anyone else know? Rahab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisleading Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 wow...i have never heard of that before! If he were behind it would be one thing but.....man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jejily Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 That happens here. I got a very nasty official letter saying I was in danger of being taken to jail or fined because DS had an (as in, ONE) unexcused absence. The letter came two months after the alleged unexcused absence. The thing is, I'd sent in a note, but the teacher lost it. She later found it, by the way, but after a certain number of days after the absence, the school won't accept the note. :confused: I'm like... huh? The teacher HAD the note!! :angry: I called, pitched a fit, the absence was reclassified as "excused." They are PARTICULARLY nasty over ANY absence or tardy (excused or not) that occurs in the first few weeks of school. Apparently, the ratio of the number of students PRESENT compared to the number of students ENROLLED is a factor in the whole "No Child Left Behind" scoring system. If that ratio goes below a certain threshold during that time frame, then the school gets a bad score. That means, the NEXT year, they MUST allow parents to choose a different school within the district to send their kids to (so long as it is a school that "passed" the NCLB evaluation), if the parent wishes to do so. It's a real mess. DD14 is in ps high school. They can have up to five absences excused simply from a parent note. After that, you have to bring a DOCTOR'S note, or it is unexcused, period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcmom Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 We live in Central Texas and my daughter's best friend has to do community servicethis summer for missing too many days this year. I thought that this was horrible until I read this thread. I guess her parents are getting off easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LND1218 Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 It was like this when I was in school. I went to ps for high school years ago! (It started my jr year.) If you more 5 unexcused days (meaning anything that wasn't on their approved list of sickness, death of immediate family member - extended family didnt' count, and vacation - no way!) you were held bad and fined. If you have more that a certain number (I can't remember) of excused days, you would also be held back reguardless of grades. I had a friend who got mono and was very sick. She had to come back or be held back - she was a straight A student even when she was sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in MD Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 OOOOOHHH! I've got a great idea for this type of situation. Schools are required to provide a teacher for children ill for long periods and unable to attend school. Every time your child is ill, even just for one day, request/demand a teacher to come to your home. If they don't provide you a teacher, how can they penalize you and your child??? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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