katy isd - child will be absent for 3 days on a cruise (felons, school)

[Brom]

anyone has experience asking permission from katy isd for a child to be absent for 3 days to be on a cruise. child will be kinder this school year.

my parents will be here as tourists for a few weeks and we want to go on a cruise.

[Mister Mister]

You don't even have to have you child in Kinder per state law, so it should not be an issue at all. Technically, attendance rules apply once you enroll, however K teachers tend to be lenient. If you are truly worried, just say your child was sick.

[1girln3boya]

In Katy you only need a Drs note if absent for more than 3 days so you shou be fine. They will be unexcused but as long as the rest are excused you will be ok

[Aliana926]

Please be careful...a couple years ago, when my son was in 1st grade in Fort Bend ISD, we took a cruise during Thanksgiving. He was absent for 2 days, I spoke to his teacher, she said it shouldn't be a problem at all. When he came back, I wrote a note and the school called me...they told me if he was absent for 1 more day, a total of 3 days, I would had been issued a ticket and will would have to go to court (I believe it's a misdemeanor offense). That scared me, so no more planned vacations during the school year! So, don't ask permission, just go and get a dr's note afterwards.

[Bily Lovec]

ask permission ?
seriously ?

TELL them your kid will out on certain days and will be back on a certain day.
IF they give you any lip, go to the next school board meeting and demand some heads over such nonsense..

[Mister Mister]

Originally Posted by Aliana926

Please be careful...a couple years ago, when my son was in 1st grade in Fort Bend ISD, we took a cruise during Thanksgiving. He was absent for 2 days, I spoke to his teacher, she said it shouldn't be a problem at all. When he came back, I wrote a note and the school called me...they told me if he was absent for 1 more day, a total of 3 days, I would had been issued a ticket and will would have to go to court (I believe it's a misdemeanor offense). That scared me, so no more planned vacations during the school year! So, don't ask permission, just go and get a dr's note afterwards.

Yeah, but you have to account for the fact that that's FBISD. In the teaching world, they aren't exactly known for having the world's best admins. Quite the contrary. They are a bunch of power hungry so and sos. I worked for them for four years and that was quite enough.

In Katy, she should be just fine.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by Aliana926

Please be careful...a couple years ago, when my son was in 1st grade in Fort Bend ISD, we took a cruise during Thanksgiving. He was absent for 2 days, I spoke to his teacher, she said it shouldn't be a problem at all. When he came back, I wrote a note and the school called me...they told me if he was absent for 1 more day, a total of 3 days, I would had been issued a ticket and will would have to go to court (I believe it's a misdemeanor offense). That scared me, so no more planned vacations during the school year! So, don't ask permission, just go and get a dr's note afterwards.

Ticket?? Misdemeanor offense and court?? Seriously?? That is asinine. Heck, by today's standards my parents would probably be hard felons for the stuff they did, which really didn't seem that bad at the time.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

We were gone for a week! We had our kids, two of them, in Katy Elementary in Katy Proper. We simply told the teachers that our children would be out of the country with us. The school happened to know that I travel out of the country on business for weeks at a time so they assumed it was the same, but we did not tell them it was a vacation, they did not ask. Nothing happened, my daughter was given some extra work to do, and nothing for my son. We were active PTA members at the time, so I am sure that helped.

The reason they make a big deal is because they lose money for each student that is out, so if the school is hurting for money, they will make an issue; my kids school was not hurting for money. It also depends on who runs the front desk, and the principal; they happen to be a very nice organization at Katy Elementary.

[Lbjen]

I've done similar elsewhere when I had family visiting from overseas, I explained the situation and they were fine with it especially as it was only K. If your kid is a talker like mine you don't want to be sending them in with a sick note only to have the kid go on about their awesome vacation for a week.

[Meyerland]

It is true that kinder is not required, but once a child enters school truancy laws are applicable. The child must attend 90% of days that school is in session. I think it is 90% of 180 days.

You cannot miss more than 10 days in a 6 month period. Also, missing 3 or more days in a 4 week period that are unexcused violates the truancy law. Of course the school principal can excuse your absences.

If you have too many unexcused absences, you will get a warning by the state. If attendance does not improve, you will have to go to court. If found guilty, it is about a 500$ fine and Class C misdemeanor.

Talk with the principal and make sure your child doesn't miss any other days. It should be fine.

I had many parents take their kids on vacation during the school year, and they didn't have a problem. of course, I always told them to talk with the attendance clerk and /or principal.

Stress how important school is to you during the meeting. Good luck!