Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

If you think they can just make up work with no teaching involved, then I suppose it works.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

Its not just the teacher who has to subsidize it, with non paid over time to review the work caught up on (if that happens) but it is all the other kids who have to subsidize it too, with the loss of their learning time. When they get stuck with Johnny with his tan, who can not do the group work because he was out, and the rest of the group have to get him up to par, before they can continue with the new learning.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

Seems like an odd school system over there, never heard of parents needing permission to take their kids out of school for temporary absences.

Seems like not sending kids to school at all these days, and just home schooling based on the government curriculum is the way to go, too much politics in public schools these days.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

And what about Johnny with his tin can who is a slow learner and creates the same issue in class, attends daily but still can't keep up with the group?

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

In the UK, the child would generally have an assigned aide nowadays.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

Every time my children take time out of school, whether for a medical appointment, an extracurricular event, or (heaven forfend) a vacation, we are expected to inform the school board. In my school district, this is done through an online notification system. On one occasion when one kid was unwell and we forgot to do the notification, we had a phone call from the school office by about 9.15 that morning asking where the child was. Sure, we don't have to "ask permission" for the very occasional absences that my children take, but I'm quite sure we'd be called in to see the principal and explain ourselves if one of our offspring was absent for a total of 22 days between Labour Day and March Break.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

We most certainly need permission here (US), in fact if my daughter misses one class, even due to something like taking a test elsewhere in the school, the attendance office emails me like a shot. The school loses funding for each day a child is out, even if authorized.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

I would not call that needing permission, more of just informing you.

My sisters kids school only requests parents inform them in advance, but no permission is necessary according to her and she has never had an issue with the school and missing some days.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

They are informing me because they need it authorized.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

This.

People often seem to think of their child in isolation, "little Johnny being out for a week is no big deal". But imagine what would happen if every child in a class of thirty took even just one whole week out at random times of the year? It would reduce the teaching calendar/ plan to complete chaos! :frown:

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

But needing parent authorization is not the same as the parent requiring permission from the school.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

We do have to get permission:

STUDENT/PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND GUIDELINES REGARDING ATTENDANCE

Excused Absences from Compulsory Attendance
Education Code Section 48205 permits a pupil to be excused from school under certain circumstances.
· Illness
· Medical, dental, optometry, chiropractic services
· Quarantine
· Funeral of immediate family, limited to 1 day in state, 3 days out of state
· Court Appearance*
· Illness of custodial child*
· Religious holiday or ceremony*
· Religious retreats limited to 4 hours per semester*
· Employment conferences*
· Other reasons pursuant to board policy*

*Prior approval of these absences must be requested in writing on the appropriate form (click here) by parent/guardian and approved by an administrator.

All absences* MUST be cleared within 72 hours
Attendance Hotline (818) 222-7177 ext. 699


PHILOSOPHY

The primary responsbility of the student is to be in class to maximize his/her opportunities for success. Excessive tardiness and absences have a direct correlation to poor student performance and are detrimental to the learning environment. Parents, students, teachers, and administrators all have a shared responsiblity to ensure that a quality education is priority. Las Virgenes Unified School District attendance policy is directed toward achieiving that goal.

Full Day Absences: A student can clear an absence by: Having a parent or guardian call the school to report the full-day absence within 72 hours*. Students returning to school after an absence whose parent or guardian has called to excuse the absence can go directly to first or second period. Please include your student's name, date(s) of absence and the reason for the absence when you call. If the absence is one that needed to be pre-approved (see list below) please bring a copy of the signed/approved form.

Upon his/her return, the student can bring a note to school signed by the parent, clearing the absence. Students returning to school after an absence with a note from a parent/guardian, can drop off the note at the Attendance Office for verification. Please include your student's name, date(s) of absence and the reason for the absence in the note.

All absences* must be cleared within 72 hours or the absences will be considered truant absences (unexcused) and assignments may not be made up for credit. Students may be dropped/failed from classes with three (3) unverified absences in any one class. Parents will be notified by phone and mail regarding unverified absences.

Part Day Absences: Students leaving campus for any reason throughout the normal school day must check out in advance through the Attendance Office. A student may check out during the day if:




They have a signed note by the parent stating the reason for leaving and time required to check out. The note must have a parent signature and a phone number to verify the reason. If the student is leaving for medical reasons, (i.e. doctor, dentist, etc) the note must have the doctor's name.

A parent phones the Attendance Office and checks the student out.

Students leaving campus for any reason must check out at the Attendance or Health Office. Students leaving campus for any reason and not checking out through the Attendance or Health Office will be considered truant for that particular class period. A parent phone call will NOT clear a truant or unverified absence when a student has left campus without authorization. Students must be in school all day in order to practice or participate in a game, practice, rehearsal, performance or activity. Requests for exceptions must be made in advance through the Attendance Office. Students must check back in at the Attendance Office when returning to school...


...Absences, Excused (not ill): Absences due to death* in the family, religious observances*, court appearances*, illness of custodial child*, religious retreat*(4 hours per semester only), employment conference or other reasons pursuant to board policy MUST have prior approval from an administrator. Notice must be received no later than two weeks before the absence begins. Full credit will be given upon completion of make-up work or tests. The time limit for make-up work is one day for every day absent plus one day after returning from absence.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

Your original post implied they were only notifying you, and my comments were based on that and the information in those posts.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

Yes perhaps I was not clear. I meant that they even jump on absences of one class.

Re: Cracking down on truancy!
 

I agree. I mean I've always thought schools in the UK and the whole politics and drama surrounding it were a bit intense but I never knew it went this far. :unsure:
Or homeschooling on a non-conventional method such as "unschooling" - basically learning about everything and anything, anywhere, not reliant upon textbooks or other government malarkey. And you know what? Read up on kids who have 'graduated' an unschool family - they really enjoyed it and respect their parents for it. Ask a kid who graduated from the state schools today? "Holy cripes, i'm glad to get out of that shithole" is what they'll tell you.

A quick google for "unschool" will give a better explanation than I can if you're interested.