Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The
principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade as she is already the youngest in her class. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal (who are quite nice.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Vicki" wrote in message ... : Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The : principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned : about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed : five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] : I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only : allowed 5 excused absences per semester. : : I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home : (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school : for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy : when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not : going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family : time.) : : We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day : per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read : about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone : done this or know if it is doable? : : dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at : school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting : appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but : there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade : as she is already the youngest in her class. : : Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is : a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing : it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to : homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? : Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? : : dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in : three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do : what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal : (who are quite nice.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. : Thank you. If your child is missing school because she's sick, then she is *not* truant. The school cannot punish/penalized you or her for missing due to illness. They may require that you provide a doctor's note (which is a real PITA since it means you have to take her to the doctor if she's sick), but that's as far as they can go. If her absences are "unexcused"--IOW not due to illness, a funeral, etc.--then they *can* penalize you. In fact in my area the courts can actually fine the parents $2500 per day for each unexcused absence. This only occurs in extreme circumstances where the parents obviously just don't give a s**t about their child's education. Your statement about "taking her out of school for things you feel are important" is getting pretty close to the line. I wouldn't want to stand in front of a judge and try to explain that one. As for keeping her at home 1 day a week for "home schooling," IMO that's a big mistake, and they could definitely come after you for truancy for that. If you want to home school, then do it, but don't do it half way. If she misses 20% of the school days, then she'll miss 20% of the material that her teacher expects her to learn--or you will unreasonably expect her teacher to spend additional time every week helping your daughter get caught up on material she missed. If you don't want to do full-on home schooling, then do it on Saturdays instead of on a regular school day. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
I highly recommend homeschooling and finding other ways for your child to see
her friends -- after school, weekends. This "truancy" argument sounds more than a bit like a threat. One thing to always remember in matters like this -- this is YOUR child. NOT the school's and NOT the state's. My mother faced a similar situation one time with me in the third grade, not with regard to truancy, but with regard to an absolute horrible teacher who distinctly despised me. The feeling was mutual. She also had a soft spot for the biggest bully in the school. The overall situation got so out of hand that the school board and my mother had a discussion. Of course they tried to intimidate her, and gave preference to the teacher's statements over mine. But my mother was not the type to be readily intimidated, and the school board eventually had to back down and had to persuade the teacher to back off in her treatment of me. Bottom line on truancy -- what the schools are most concerned about is that every student who doesn't show up is ultimately money lost in their school budget. That's why they may try to intimidate you in these forthcoming meetings. Do not let them, and please give serious consideration to full-time homeschooling. It sounds like it would be the best optional educationally. |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"ColoradoSkiBum" wrote
If your child is missing school because she's sick, then she is *not* truant. The school cannot punish/penalized you or her for missing due to illness. They may require that you provide a doctor's note (which is a real PITA since it means you have to take her to the doctor if she's sick), but that's as far as they can go. If her absences are "unexcused"--IOW not due to illness, a funeral, etc.--then they *can* penalize you. In fact in my area the courts can actually fine the parents $2500 per day for each unexcused absence. This only occurs in extreme circumstances where the parents obviously just don't give a s**t about their child's education. Your statement about "taking her out of school for things you feel are important" is getting pretty close to the line. I wouldn't want to stand in front of a judge and try to explain that one. I read a child is limited to 10 absences excused by the parent per year--guess this is where the 5/semester comes from. I can't get a doctor's excuse for the flu dd had 2 weeks ago--we didn't go to the doctor. I did call and talk with a nurse at the hospital, but I couldn't say her name. In any case, dd will miss again around Thanksgiving due to something important to us. That will put me over the five, even if dd stays healthy until then. If they're not REALLY going to fine me (b/c we do care about her education,) then who do I talk with beforehand so I don't have to have fines hanging over my head? As for keeping her at home 1 day a week for "home schooling," IMO that's a big mistake, and they could definitely come after you for truancy for that. If you want to home school, then do it, but don't do it half way. If she misses 20% of the school days, then she'll miss 20% of the material that her teacher expects her to learn--or you will unreasonably expect her teacher to spend additional time every week helping your daughter get caught up on material she missed. If you don't want to do full-on home schooling, then do it on Saturdays instead of on a regular school day. I think you're right about the problem with truancy and part-time home-schooling. I'm not sure how we avoid that. As an aside, I'm not worried about dd missing what is taught--she knows it. Nor do I expect her teacher to spend additional time to get dd caught up--dd is ahead. 2nd grade curriculum seems pretty limited if you're already a good reader and good with numbers. Our idea was to give dd a day of more challenging materials. It is hard to fit them into the weekends and evenings (piano, scouts, time with dad and siblings, etc.) dd reads constantly, but I'd hoped to use the day for more hands on learning--science projects, trips to museum, etc. She's expressed interest in this (as opposed to full-time homeschooling, which she's rejected,) but maybe this won't be allowed. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"GI Trekker" wrote
I highly recommend homeschooling and finding other ways for your child to see her friends -- after school, weekends. This "truancy" argument sounds more than a bit like a threat. One thing to always remember in matters like this -- this is YOUR child. NOT the school's and NOT the state's. My mother faced a similar situation one time with me in the third grade, not with regard to truancy, but with regard to an absolute horrible teacher who distinctly despised me. The feeling was mutual. She also had a soft spot for the biggest bully in the school. The overall situation got so out of hand that the school board and my mother had a discussion. Of course they tried to intimidate her, and gave preference to the teacher's statements over mine. But my mother was not the type to be readily intimidated, and the school board eventually had to back down and had to persuade the teacher to back off in her treatment of me. Bottom line on truancy -- what the schools are most concerned about is that every student who doesn't show up is ultimately money lost in their school budget. That's why they may try to intimidate you in these forthcoming meetings. Do not let them, and please give serious consideration to full-time homeschooling. It sounds like it would be the best optional educationally. Luckily dd's teacher is very nice. The principal seems good. We're friends with people on the school board. We are supportive of the school and have had a good relationship in the past. dh volunteered in the classroom last year. We initiated and donated money to start a community fund to finance special projects or trips that teachers might want to do... I'm not saying that the letter from the principal *isn't* about money... it just seems misguided if that's what its about. It surprised us, got our attention... but not in a good way. I'm angered by the letter. Maybe she is required to send the letter and has no over-ride authority. I don't see this as an issue the school board would have authority over... I don't know who we're supposed to talk with, and what options are legal. dd will be truant by their definition. Then what? I don't know. dd rejected ft home school, and that's ok w/us right now. Maybe we'll change our tune if we can't resolve this. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Vicki wrote: Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I have no experience with this at all, but the implication of 'truancy' to me means 'absences without parental knowledge or consent.' I guess I don't understand why you can't keep your child home or out for family gatherings, or illness (even without doctors note! the vast majority of childhood illnesses absolutely do not require a visit to the doctor) if YOU are the one authorizing it. I suppose I would take your particular case to the principal/teacher and stipulate that as long as your daughter maintains a high standing in her class and requires minimal 'extra' effort to keep her caught up (ie: you as parents are willing spend extra time to help catch her up in school work due to missed days) than you as responsible parents shouldn't worry so much about the hard and fast rule of 5 absences/semester, as long as it is within reason (a few day here or there, not going off to tahiti for a few weeks :). Maybe once they realize your direct involvement in this, they won't be so anal about it. Man, reading a lot of these school issues - even/especially in the early grades - makes me nervous about my dd heading into the school system. Wow, times have changed, and I'm not sure its for the better :). cara |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
In article ,
"Vicki" wrote: "GI Trekker" wrote I highly recommend homeschooling and finding other ways for your child to see her friends -- after school, weekends. This "truancy" argument sounds more than a bit like a threat. One thing to always remember in matters like this -- this is YOUR child. NOT the school's and NOT the state's. My mother faced a similar situation one time with me in the third grade, not with regard to truancy, but with regard to an absolute horrible teacher who distinctly despised me. The feeling was mutual. She also had a soft spot for the biggest bully in the school. The overall situation got so out of hand that the school board and my mother had a discussion. Of course they tried to intimidate her, and gave preference to the teacher's statements over mine. But my mother was not the type to be readily intimidated, and the school board eventually had to back down and had to persuade the teacher to back off in her treatment of me. Bottom line on truancy -- what the schools are most concerned about is that every student who doesn't show up is ultimately money lost in their school budget. That's why they may try to intimidate you in these forthcoming meetings. Do not let them, and please give serious consideration to full-time homeschooling. It sounds like it would be the best optional educationally. Luckily dd's teacher is very nice. The principal seems good. We're friends with people on the school board. We are supportive of the school and have had a good relationship in the past. dh volunteered in the classroom last year. We initiated and donated money to start a community fund to finance special projects or trips that teachers might want to do... I'm not saying that the letter from the principal *isn't* about money... it just seems misguided if that's what its about. It surprised us, got our attention... but not in a good way. I'm angered by the letter. Don't get too caught up being upset about the letter itself: in many districts, they are pretty automatic. If your child misses a certain number of days, the system automatically kicks out a letter to send to you, and the letters all say the same thing. Depending upon the size of the school, the principal may even have someone else signing the letters the computer kicks out. Lord knows, I've seen enough of them -- both for a child who was desperately ill and missed an enormous amount of school, and for a child who had truancy issues. If you've been calling the school to tell them of her absences, and that she's been sick, they are not truancies, but they should be excused absences. If you have NOT been calling the school to tell them why she's not at school, they are, technically, truancies, and there could be some nasty actions regarding this. If you call the school to tell them you are taking her out for something that YOU think is important but they do not excuse it, it is a truancy. It would not surprise me to find out that after five truancies in one semester they would take action; it would surprise me to find out that they would disallow any more than five excused absenses. However, the only way to know what is and is not the law vs. optional is to talk to a local lawyer -- one who knows both the state law wherever you are, and any local school board rulings. A newsgroup, with people from all over the world, can't tell you those things. If you are very concerned, I'd make an appointment with a lawyer who specializes in these things. meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
In article ,
cara wrote: Vicki wrote: Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I have no experience with this at all, but the implication of 'truancy' to me means 'absences without parental knowledge or consent.' I guess I don't understand why you can't keep your child home or out for family gatherings, or illness (even without doctors note! the vast majority of childhood illnesses absolutely do not require a visit to the doctor) if YOU are the one authorizing it. I suppose I would take your particular case to the principal/teacher and stipulate that as long as your daughter maintains a high standing in her class and requires minimal 'extra' effort to keep her caught up (ie: you as parents are willing spend extra time to help catch her up in school work due to missed days) than you as responsible parents shouldn't worry so much about the hard and fast rule of 5 absences/semester, as long as it is within reason (a few day here or there, not going off to tahiti for a few weeks :). Maybe once they realize your direct involvement in this, they won't be so anal about it. This will vary from school to school, and from state to state, both in how much leeway the teacher or principal has and in how willing they are (if they DO have the leeway) to excuse absences. Some will accept absolutely NO excuse but illness or family funeral, others will negotiate for excused absences for family vacations or other reasons. And, with funding being handled the way it is now, I sort of understand their position when they do NOT excuse absences for anything but the really necessary ones. Around here, at least, they only get money from the state according to the number of bodies actually in school each day -- but it actually takes MORE teacher time and energy (and sometimes other staff as well) to give make up tests, arrange for additional outside of class work to make up for what they miss in class, and all of that stuff. Man, reading a lot of these school issues - even/especially in the early grades - makes me nervous about my dd heading into the school system. Wow, times have changed, and I'm not sure its for the better :). With change always comes loss -- and gain. What's the old song? -- "something's lost and something's gained by living every day." meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Vicki" wrote in message ... Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade as she is already the youngest in her class. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal (who are quite nice.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vicki If you have provided medical documentation, this can be exceeded. One major illness can easily go over 5 days. It is only when there's a lot of little, one and two day absenses, that this becomes a problem. Essentially, if an absense is over 3 days long at a time, and there is medical documentation, you are homeschooling for that time, and if it's over 5 days at a time, the school can provide a homebound tutor for a few hours a week. I have a little girl right now who just had open heart surgery, and will be out of school for quite some time. If she has had frequent illnesses of a few days, you still should get some sort of medical documentation for these to avoid legal problems. The reason this comes into play is that there are a great many parents who will write excuse notes when their child isn't actually sick. In one case, we have a 6th grade boy who ends up spending a lot of nights in the casino arcades in Tunica, while his mother gambles. Then, the next morning, when they finally wake up halfway into the day, she writes an excuse note, claming that he had a stomachache or a headache, and brings him to school. Let's face it-unless a child is pregnant, and this boy isn't, he's probably not going to be waking up sick every morning! Talking to the child has been very informative. If she's already had extensive illnesses, it is unlikely the school district will look kindly on her missing time over Thanksgiving. I am spending almost $300 more on airfare for my husband and I over Thanksgiving precisely because of the school schedule. If a teacher misses the day before a holiday, we are charged double for it. In general, unless the child (or adult) has been ill for an extended period of time prior to the holiday, absenses right before a holiday are considered suspicious. |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Vicki" wrote in message ... "GI Trekker" wrote I highly recommend homeschooling and finding other ways for your child to see her friends -- after school, weekends. This "truancy" argument sounds more than a bit like a threat. One thing to always remember in matters like this -- this is YOUR child. NOT the school's and NOT the state's. My mother faced a similar situation one time with me in the third grade, not with regard to truancy, but with regard to an absolute horrible teacher who distinctly despised me. The feeling was mutual. She also had a soft spot for the biggest bully in the school. The overall situation got so out of hand that the school board and my mother had a discussion. Of course they tried to intimidate her, and gave preference to the teacher's statements over mine. But my mother was not the type to be readily intimidated, and the school board eventually had to back down and had to persuade the teacher to back off in her treatment of me. Bottom line on truancy -- what the schools are most concerned about is that every student who doesn't show up is ultimately money lost in their school budget. That's why they may try to intimidate you in these forthcoming meetings. Do not let them, and please give serious consideration to full-time homeschooling. It sounds like it would be the best optional educationally. Luckily dd's teacher is very nice. The principal seems good. We're friends with people on the school board. We are supportive of the school and have had a good relationship in the past. dh volunteered in the classroom last year. We initiated and donated money to start a community fund to finance special projects or trips that teachers might want to do... I'm not saying that the letter from the principal *isn't* about money... it just seems misguided if that's what its about. It surprised us, got our attention... but not in a good way. I'm angered by the letter. Maybe she is required to send the letter and has no over-ride authority. I don't see this as an issue the school board would have authority over... I don't know who we're supposed to talk with, and what options are legal. dd will be truant by their definition. Then what? I don't know. She is almost certainly required by law to send it. I would strongly suggest getting documentation from your doctor, if possible, on past absenses, and certainly getting documentation for ANY further medical absense. Your state education code should be online, and will give truancy statutes. dd rejected ft home school, and that's ok w/us right now. Maybe we'll change our tune if we can't resolve this. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Donna Metler" wrote in message
... .. She is almost certainly required by law to send it. I would strongly suggest getting documentation from your doctor, if possible, on past absenses, and certainly getting documentation for ANY further medical absense. Your state education code should be online, and will give truancy statutes. I second that motion. School Districts vary considerably in both rules and how they are applied. For example, this school district I live in allows only ten excused absences a year or you are retained. It is extreemly difficult to obtain an exception, even for participation in national level amateur sports teams [issue last school year], serious illnesses lasting longer than 10 days, etc. A lot of parents in this area are hopping mad about it. Same State, next school District away, not an issue at all, they are much more understanding of why a child may be out for an excused reason. So, look into your State and school district's rules and applications thereof very closely and know that while we can give you anecdotal evidence, it all comes down to your school district and how you interact with it. Good luck! -A, in Florida -- see my creative works on ebay under aulame 123 |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Vicki wrote:
Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. This is similar to the situation in our school district. You can thank the "No Child Left Behind" law for this. A lot of flexibility has been removed from the local level. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) Yes, they can make your life very difficult over the truancy issue. In general, the principal usually has some degree of latitude and can approve absences in excess of the number of allowed absences; however, in some areas the principal has little latitude. You could risk your daughter not being promoted to the next grade (or ultimately not graduating) for these sorts of issues. We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? I suspect this would not go over well. I would think it would be *highly* disruptive to the teacher and the rest of the class. I would either homeschool full time, leave things as they are, or look for enrichment through the school (GT programs, etc.). You'd be asking a *lot* of the teacher. He or she would have to figure out how to make sure your child suffered no ill effects from missing up to 20 percent of the class! That would mean no quizzes/tests or other assessments on that day, no special activities, etc. I would think that would be pretty unreasonable to request. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? I hear what you're trying to accomplish, but I would be very surprised if you could get where you're trying to go. I think you're going to find that homeschooling is an all or nothing thing. If you think that's really the way you need to go, then I think you could solve the problem by homeschooling full time and taking care to get well involved in your local homeschooling community so that she builds new networks of friends. If not, I'd try to make a commitment to finding the challenge she needs with this (or another) school. Good luck, Ericka |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
ColoradoSkiBum wrote:
If your child is missing school because she's sick, then she is *not* truant. The school cannot punish/penalized you or her for missing due to illness. They may require that you provide a doctor's note (which is a real PITA since it means you have to take her to the doctor if she's sick), but that's as far as they can go. On the contrary, thanks to the reforms associated with "No Child Left Behind" that's not true. They *can* create problems with too many absences *even* if they're excused, and even if there are doctor's notes. Best wishes, Ericka |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Vicki" wrote in message ... I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) I doubt they'd get her for truancy if the only reason she's been out is for being sick, as long as you can prove it with a doctor's note. Sounds like the other reasons you feel are more important are getting in the way of her education. Personally, I think you ought to either homeschool or follow school rules. My parents would never have let me miss school to visit family except for once when my grandma was dying, and we even got permission for that (we had to go halfway around the world for two weeks during finals). School is important. It is setting a precedent for how she will be in her adult life. When she gets a job, she can't just take off because of family unless it's an emergency. She will have to see what the workplace rules are and work around that. If she doesn't like the workplace rules, she can find another job, like you can homeschool. But you shouldn't have her go to school and ignore the rules. |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Vicki wrote in :
[snip] I think you're right about the problem with truancy and part-time home-schooling. I'm not sure how we avoid that. As an aside, I'm not worried about dd missing what is taught--she knows it. Nor do I expect her teacher to spend additional time to get dd caught up--dd is ahead. 2nd grade curriculum seems pretty limited if you're already a good reader and good with numbers. Our idea was to give dd a day of more challenging materials. It is hard to fit them into the weekends and evenings (piano, scouts, time with dad and siblings, etc.) dd reads constantly, but I'd hoped to use the day for more hands on learning--science projects, trips to museum, etc. She's expressed interest in this (as opposed to full-time homeschooling, which she's rejected,) but maybe this won't be allowed. Can you work with the teacher to ensure she gets more challanging work at school. My 7yo is in the top groups in her class, in spite of being the youngest girl in th eclass, and the teacher sets her group more challanging work while she goes over the basics with the rest of the class. This is exactly how my teacher handled it when I was her age as well. -- Penny Gaines |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Well imo, you are essentially telling your daughter that rules don't matter,
school doesn't matter and that she can stay home at any whim. What is she going to do in the real adult world when she has a job? Stay home because she feels like it. What about college? She will need to be there all the time in order to have all the information she needs to pass the class. If she is sick that's one thing, but to stay home at any given time because you think it is important doesn't fly well with school. You are also setting your daughter up for negative attention from the other kids at school. They will see her staying home, getting extra attention from the teacher because lessons will have to be repeated to her and possibly getting out of essential tests and assignments. If she is missing so much, it ruins the dynamics of the class. I don't mean the classroom persay, but things will be discussed in class and your daughter will have no clue as to what went on the previous day. If you want to homeschool, then you need to do it full time and not worry what your daughter wants because obviously you think what education she is getting is inadequate. Just because you think she is smart doesn't mean in reality that she is. She may be a little ahead in some areas and perhaps feel bored with some assignments, but she also may be feeling left out when she misses so many days. If you want to supplement her school work, then perhaps you need to do it on the weekends and take away some of her extracurricular activies that she has going. -- Sue (mom to three girls) I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World... Vicki wrote in message ... Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade as she is already the youngest in her class. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal (who are quite nice.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"cara" wrote in message ... I have no experience with this at all, but the implication of 'truancy' to me means 'absences without parental knowledge or consent.' I think in some school districts it doesn't matter the reasoning. I was fairly high ranking in my high school class, all honors classes, all good grades, but I spent the majority of my high school career on "academic probation" for illnesses and absences that my parents had complete knowledge of. I got suspended in the 9th grade for one day for having 5 excused absences, if they were unexcused, it would have been after 3 that I was suspended. Doesn't make sense to suspend me from school for not going, but that's what they did. Bizarre rules. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
: Bottom line on truancy -- what the schools are most concerned about is
that : every student who doesn't show up is ultimately money lost in their school : budget. Right. And if your child is absent so often that the school is not getting any money for her, then they should not be required to educate your child *at all.* -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
: I read a child is limited to 10 absences excused by the parent per
: year--guess this is where the 5/semester comes from. I can't get a doctor's : excuse for the flu dd had 2 weeks ago--we didn't go to the doctor. I did : call and talk with a nurse at the hospital, but I couldn't say her name. In : any case, dd will miss again around Thanksgiving due to something important : to us. That will put me over the five, even if dd stays healthy until then. : If they're not REALLY going to fine me (b/c we do care about her education,) : then who do I talk with beforehand so I don't have to have fines hanging : over my head? If that's district policy, then you will probably have to talk to someone at the district level. That's a pretty strict policy, but definitely open to interpretation by the individual schools, also. The previous district that I taught in had such a policy, but it was never enforced at the school I taught at. But it does sound like your daughter's school is pretty serious about enforcing the policy. Perhaps you could start by talking to an administrator at her school--as someone else suggested, that letter may have been generated automatically. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
: If your child is missing school because she's sick, then she is *not*
: truant. The school cannot punish/penalized you or her for missing due to : illness. They may require that you provide a doctor's note (which is a real : PITA since it means you have to take her to the doctor if she's sick), but : that's as far as they can go. : : : On the contrary, thanks to the reforms associated with : "No Child Left Behind" that's not true. They *can* create : problems with too many absences *even* if they're excused, and : even if there are doctor's notes. I obviously spoke too soon; it really depends on the district. One of the districts I used to teach in was very good about working with students who had long-term illnesses, and would set up in-home tutoring for kids so they could keep on top of their work and not get too far behind. OTOH, we had students who ditched 20 days in a single school *quarter* (9 weeks) and we could not get rid of them. When the school finally got them and their parents before the judge, basically the judge would make it out to be all the school's fault for not getting the kid into school. Did we call their parent every time the kid was absent? Did an administrator go to the home to look for the kid? Things like that made me leave that district. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
: This will vary from school to school, and from state to state, both in
: how much leeway the teacher or principal has and in how willing they are : (if they DO have the leeway) to excuse absences. Some will accept : absolutely NO excuse but illness or family funeral, others will : negotiate for excused absences for family vacations or other reasons. This really surprised me actually when my SS came to live with us 2 years ago. He's been at 4 different schools now (all same district), and they will "excuse" absences for *any* reason--you don't even have to give a reason--as long as the parent calls in to let them know the child is absent, it's considered "excused." There have been many occasions when I've forgotten to call in, or he's missed the bus and his dad couldn't take him to school, and they actually call *us* to find out why he's not at school. "Missing the bus" seems to be a perfectly acceptable excuse. But he only misses maybe once a month, so maybe that's why they're not too concerned about it. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
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Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Ericka ) wrote:
I hear what you're trying to accomplish, but I would be very surprised if you could get where you're trying to go. I think you're going to find that homeschooling is an all or nothing thing. Actually this too depends on the district. There are a number of partial homeschoolers where I live (though admittedly most are doing essentially all the academic work at home, and coming in for things like band and gym). --Helen |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
Sue ) wrote:
Well imo, you are essentially telling your daughter that rules don't matter, school doesn't matter and that she can stay home at any whim. What is she going to do in the real adult world when she has a job? Stay home because she feels like it. And what are you telling your child when you say that school is important to stay in even when you are not learning anything? I think that is a message that is being put across to way too many bright kids, and one reason why so many people don't have the guts to leave dead-end jobs or work to make their lives more interesting. --Helen |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"ColoradoSkiBum" wrote in message ... : If your child is missing school because she's sick, then she is *not* : truant. The school cannot punish/penalized you or her for missing due to : illness. They may require that you provide a doctor's note (which is a real : PITA since it means you have to take her to the doctor if she's sick), but : that's as far as they can go. : : : On the contrary, thanks to the reforms associated with : "No Child Left Behind" that's not true. They *can* create : problems with too many absences *even* if they're excused, and : even if there are doctor's notes. I obviously spoke too soon; it really depends on the district. One of the districts I used to teach in was very good about working with students who had long-term illnesses, and would set up in-home tutoring for kids so they could keep on top of their work and not get too far behind. OTOH, we had students who ditched 20 days in a single school *quarter* (9 weeks) and we could not get rid of them. When the school finally got them and their parents before the judge, basically the judge would make it out to be all the school's fault for not getting the kid into school. Did we call their parent every time the kid was absent? Did an administrator go to the home to look for the kid? Things like that made me leave that district. The problem isn't the child who has a long-term absense-children on homebound are considered to be in attendance under the law. But a child who misses a day here, a day there, whether due to illness, parents pulling them out for trips, or cutting to hang out at the mall is a big problem, both for funding (Average Daily Attendance) and for truancy statisitics. If your child has a medical condition which may require frequent short absenses, a homebound plan can be put into effect, where the child is considered to be homebound, but attends school when able-this is part of a 504 plan or an IEP (for Other Health Issues). With St. Jude's hospital in my district, we have had quite a few children at my school who are in treatment for Cancer, and attend school when they're feeling good, but stay home when they're reacting badly to chemotherapy, or when their resistance is down. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"H Schinske" wrote in message ... Ericka ) wrote: I hear what you're trying to accomplish, but I would be very surprised if you could get where you're trying to go. I think you're going to find that homeschooling is an all or nothing thing. Actually this too depends on the district. There are a number of partial homeschoolers where I live (though admittedly most are doing essentially all the academic work at home, and coming in for things like band and gym). However, in these cases, the homeschooling student is taking a complete class, not missing 20% of the time in all classes. There's a big difference between having a child missing a significant part of the course content, and having an extra child every day for 1st period. --Helen |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
In article ,
"Donna Metler" wrote: The problem isn't the child who has a long-term absense-children on homebound are considered to be in attendance under the law. But a child who misses a day here, a day there, whether due to illness, parents pulling them out for trips, or cutting to hang out at the mall is a big problem, both for funding (Average Daily Attendance) and for truancy statisitics. If your child has a medical condition which may require frequent short absenses, a homebound plan can be put into effect, where the child is considered to be homebound, but attends school when able-this is part of a 504 plan or an IEP (for Other Health Issues). With St. Jude's hospital in my district, we have had quite a few children at my school who are in treatment for Cancer, and attend school when they're feeling good, but stay home when they're reacting badly to chemotherapy, or when their resistance is down. Part of the problem is that, unless you really know what you are doing or hook up with someone who does, the school can make it hard for you to get the support to which you are legally entitled. Several years ago, my daughter became severely ill with hepatitis. Obviously, she was going to miss a lot of school. What I wanted was support for homebound teachers for her classes, and, since we lived across the street from the school, I wanted her to be able to return to classes part time when she was strong enough first for Chemistry and when she could handle two classes a day for Spanish -- the two classes where actually being there mattered most. I spent several weeks getting a run around from the school (the principal wanted me to withdraw her from school all together and put her in independent study until she was strong enough to come back full time). Then i got the expected call from the county health department that does the contact tracing for Hep. B. She asked if there was anything I needed. I described the situation with the school, and she said she'd take care of it. Within less than five hours, I had a call from the school giving us exactly what I'd been asking for! I am not an uneducated person, and I knew that what I was asking for was legal and appropriate -- I just hadn't had the clout to pull the right strings. Frankly, that makes me very angry on behalf of the kids whose parents don't know their legal entitlements and never hook up with someone who can help them. meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
: I am not an uneducated person, and I knew that what I was asking for was
: legal and appropriate -- I just hadn't had the clout to pull the right : strings. Frankly, that makes me very angry on behalf of the kids whose : parents don't know their legal entitlements and never hook up with : someone who can help them. It makes me angry too. Fortunately you knew what to ask for--and even though you got the runaround you kept asking until it came through. Many parents would just give up and cave in. This all kind of reminds me of the phone company regulations. Did you know that if they miss an appointment with you (say to install new service, or to fix your phone line), that you are entitled to a $25 credit on your phone bill? BUT they don't have to tell you that when you call to complain about the missed appointment--you have to specifically ASK for it and then they are REQUIRED to give it? Most people don't know that so they never ask! -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
: And what are you telling your child when you say that school is important
to : stay in even when you are not learning anything? I think that is a message that : is being put across to way too many bright kids, and one reason why so many : people don't have the guts to leave dead-end jobs or work to make their lives : more interesting. Or even to quit college if they feel it's not doing them any good. For some reason most kids feel like they *have to* go to college, even if they don't want to and aren't learning anything. -- ColoradoSkiBum |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Vicki" wrote in message ...
Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade as she is already the youngest in her class. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal (who are quite nice.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vicki I have faced truancy problems with my 7 year old, but due to medical problems. In our district the children are allowed 20 days per 180 year of school. Anything over that requires a doctors note. Just because your dd is so much smarter than all the rest of the kids and you have financial influences in the school, they still can't bend the rules. It is a fact that her teacher will have to spend extra time and effort with your child to get the missed work done, which will take time away from the children that need her guidance. Since you think school is such a waste of time for her then you should just home-school, and let her socialize after school hours. Brandy |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Brandy Kurtz" wrote in I have faced truancy problems with my 7 year old, but due to medical problems. In our district the children are allowed 20 days per 180 year of school. Anything over that requires a doctors note. Just because your dd is so much smarter than all the rest of the kids and you have financial influences in the school, they still can't bend the rules. It is a fact that her teacher will have to spend extra time and effort with your child to get the missed work done, which will take time away from the children that need her guidance. Since you think school is such a waste of time for her then you should just home-school, and let her socialize after school hours. Brandy wow... talk about putting words in someone else's mouth. I must have missed the post where the OP said all that. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"H Schinske" wrote in message ... Sue ) wrote: Well imo, you are essentially telling your daughter that rules don't matter, school doesn't matter and that she can stay home at any whim. What is she going to do in the real adult world when she has a job? Stay home because she feels like it. And what are you telling your child when you say that school is important to stay in even when you are not learning anything? I think that is a message that is being put across to way too many bright kids, and one reason why so many people don't have the guts to leave dead-end jobs or work to make their lives more interesting. The point is, she's in school and the school has rules. If she doesn't want to follow those rules, she finds another school or homeschools or something where the rules suit her. But, as long as she attends that school, she needs to follow their rules. If she were in a dead-end job, she could quit her job and find another more satisfying job, but as long as she keeps her job (her choice), she needs to follow the rules. |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
In article ,
"Denise" wrote: "Brandy Kurtz" wrote in I have faced truancy problems with my 7 year old, but due to medical problems. In our district the children are allowed 20 days per 180 year of school. Anything over that requires a doctors note. Just because your dd is so much smarter than all the rest of the kids and you have financial influences in the school, they still can't bend the rules. It is a fact that her teacher will have to spend extra time and effort with your child to get the missed work done, which will take time away from the children that need her guidance. Since you think school is such a waste of time for her then you should just home-school, and let her socialize after school hours. Brandy wow... talk about putting words in someone else's mouth. I must have missed the post where the OP said all that. While I might not have phrased it exactly the way Brandy did, I certainly wondered why the OP felt it necessary to point out her family's financial contributions. I did understand why she was pointing out that her daughter wasn't suffering academically -- that is, imo, relevant to the concerns about missed classes. The fact that the family funded things in the community didn't seem to be relevant. meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
H Schinske wrote in message
And what are you telling your child when you say that school is important to stay in even when you are not learning anything? I think that is a message that is being put across to way too many bright kids, and one reason why so many people don't have the guts to leave dead-end jobs or work to make their live more interesting. Then she needs to homeschool full time, if she is not happy. My kids are learning in school and I am essentially happy with the education they have had thus far. Like I said, if she is not happy then she should change. She is sending the wrong message to her child by letting her go some of the time, but taking her out for part of the time. NOT everyone thinks poorly of public school and what they are getting. -- Sue (mom to three girls) I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World... |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"Vicki" wrote in message ... Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) You are teaching your daughter that it is OK to skip out on things that she *has* to do in order to do things she (or you ) *wants* to do. Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) There might be repercussions from other kids who think that your DD is getting "special treatment" in being allowed to miss days of school to go to museums, trips, etc., something that not everyone else gets to do. We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade as she is already the youngest in her class. There there schools that still skip children? I though this was pretty much abandoned by now. I skipped first grade (parents strongly pushed for it) , and while there were benefits, there were also significant drawbacks for me throughout my school career. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal (who are quite nice.) I bet they cringe when they see YOU coming! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
I should have read your post before I answered, Sue. That is exactly what I
wanted to say, and you said it very well. "Sue" wrote in message ... Well imo, you are essentially telling your daughter that rules don't matter, school doesn't matter and that she can stay home at any whim. What is she going to do in the real adult world when she has a job? Stay home because she feels like it. What about college? She will need to be there all the time in order to have all the information she needs to pass the class. If she is sick that's one thing, but to stay home at any given time because you think it is important doesn't fly well with school. You are also setting your daughter up for negative attention from the other kids at school. They will see her staying home, getting extra attention from the teacher because lessons will have to be repeated to her and possibly getting out of essential tests and assignments. If she is missing so much, it ruins the dynamics of the class. I don't mean the classroom persay, but things will be discussed in class and your daughter will have no clue as to what went on the previous day. If you want to homeschool, then you need to do it full time and not worry what your daughter wants because obviously you think what education she is getting is inadequate. Just because you think she is smart doesn't mean in reality that she is. She may be a little ahead in some areas and perhaps feel bored with some assignments, but she also may be feeling left out when she misses so many days. If you want to supplement her school work, then perhaps you need to do it on the weekends and take away some of her extracurricular activies that she has going. -- Sue (mom to three girls) I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World... Vicki wrote in message ... Today we received a warning letter for truancy for our 2nd grader. The principal said she was concerned about dd's absences. I am not concerned about dd's absences--she is bright, she knows the material [she's missed five days this month, but received 100 on her test for materials covered.] I don't think the teacher is concerned. But the principal said dd is only allowed 5 excused absences per semester. I'm not happy about the possibility of legal sanctions for keeping dd home (she was sick this month, but I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school for other things we feel are important.) Can they prosecute us for truancy when dd is top of her class? I don't see the harm to anyone in dd not going. And she *will* miss more school at Thanksgiving (important family time.) We had planned to talk at school conferences about keeping dd home one day per week, or bi-weekly, to enhance her education. But from what I've read about truancy laws tonight, this doesn't seem to be allowable. Has anyone done this or know if it is doable? dd does not want to homeschool full-time--she likes seeing her friends at school and we think this is good for her. We have discussed getting appropriate challenge in her classroom--the teacher has been helpful, but there is only so much she can do. We chose not to skip dd to the next grade as she is already the youngest in her class. Have others faced this truancy problem? How do you approach it? If this is a law (5 days/semester,) does the principal have much leeway in enforcing it? If not, then who do we talk with? The DA? Is it possible to homeschool part-time (the days dd misses) and avoid a truancy enforcement? Could we test out of second grade and attendance be optional? dh is calling the principal next week, and we will meet with dd's teacher in three weeks. I'd like to have a sense of our options before we go so we do what's right by dd and cause the least distress to her teacher and principal (who are quite nice.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vicki |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
dejablues wrote in message
... I should have read your post before I answered, Sue. That is exactly what I wanted to say, and you said it very well. Well, thank you. :o) -- Sue (mom to three girls) I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World... |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
"dragonlady" wrote in message ... In article , "Donna Metler" wrote: The problem isn't the child who has a long-term absense-children on homebound are considered to be in attendance under the law. But a child who misses a day here, a day there, whether due to illness, parents pulling them out for trips, or cutting to hang out at the mall is a big problem, both for funding (Average Daily Attendance) and for truancy statisitics. If your child has a medical condition which may require frequent short absenses, a homebound plan can be put into effect, where the child is considered to be homebound, but attends school when able-this is part of a 504 plan or an IEP (for Other Health Issues). With St. Jude's hospital in my district, we have had quite a few children at my school who are in treatment for Cancer, and attend school when they're feeling good, but stay home when they're reacting badly to chemotherapy, or when their resistance is down. Part of the problem is that, unless you really know what you are doing or hook up with someone who does, the school can make it hard for you to get the support to which you are legally entitled. Several years ago, my daughter became severely ill with hepatitis. Obviously, she was going to miss a lot of school. What I wanted was support for homebound teachers for her classes, and, since we lived across the street from the school, I wanted her to be able to return to classes part time when she was strong enough first for Chemistry and when she could handle two classes a day for Spanish -- the two classes where actually being there mattered most. I spent several weeks getting a run around from the school (the principal wanted me to withdraw her from school all together and put her in independent study until she was strong enough to come back full time). Then i got the expected call from the county health department that does the contact tracing for Hep. B. She asked if there was anything I needed. I described the situation with the school, and she said she'd take care of it. Within less than five hours, I had a call from the school giving us exactly what I'd been asking for! I am not an uneducated person, and I knew that what I was asking for was legal and appropriate -- I just hadn't had the clout to pull the right strings. Frankly, that makes me very angry on behalf of the kids whose parents don't know their legal entitlements and never hook up with someone who can help them. The children's hospitals here are very good at working with the schools-and it may be that with Le Bonheur and St. Jude's here, we've had to become more flexible. In general, the larger the system, the more flexible they seem to be able to be. What frustrated me was a few years back. I was, at the time, on half-time status following HELLP syndrome, after 8 weeks maternity leave. Meanwhile, the same week I went back half-time, a teen mother (who had delivered her son prematurely at the same gestational age I'd delivered mine). She had been absent two weeks-and was being told by the school that if she didn't come back, she'd fail for the year. Now, if she had been an employee, she would not have been ALLOWED to go back to work for 6 weeks (or until she had medical clearance). If she had given birth to a living baby, she would have been allowed to enter a teen parenting program, which would have provided extra supports and a modified schedule, both while recuperating from delivery, and until graduation. I mean, she may have been all of 16, but she had just gone through a difficult delivery and one of the worst emotional situations you can go through-with little emotional support, because most people really wanted to forget that the whole pregnancy had even happened! It took three phone calls to get a 504 plan set up, which allowed her a modified schedule for the rest of the year. meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school?
H Schinske wrote:
Ericka ) wrote: I hear what you're trying to accomplish, but I would be very surprised if you could get where you're trying to go. I think you're going to find that homeschooling is an all or nothing thing. Actually this too depends on the district. There are a number of partial homeschoolers where I live (though admittedly most are doing essentially all the academic work at home, and coming in for things like band and gym). Yes, I have heard of that--but wouldn't the kids then be *required* to attend all of the pieces they signed up for regularly? A child who is missing elementary school for a day here and there, even if it's a planned particular day, is almost certainly going to be missing bits and pieces of any particular academic subject. One a theoretical level, one might have better luck asking to homeschool a particular subject or subjects and having the child attend school for other subjects, but if the child is attending school for some academic subjects I would think that would be extremely difficult to work around logistically. Best wishes, Ericka |
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