Private School Attendance in Texas?

I agree with JB - what's the negativity about making up lost class time? The school is saying they will offer her extra instruction, free tutoring, help her succeed? Sounds like a good thing! They're not saying she'll be punished.

I don't have any experience with this, but why do you object to the idea that she should make up lost class time? Nine absences, for any reason, is a lot. I don't think that saying that she has to make up lost time should be seen as a punishment, it's pointing out that she has missed instructional time and should have the opportunity to make up that time. It actually wouldn't be different if she were on vacation instead - at the end of the day, assuming a 6 hour school day (I'm giving a minimum guess, I would think her day is actually longer), she has missed over 50 hours of school already this year. That's a lot of time! It might not be something that you or she can control, but that's a lot of instructional hours to lose out on and if she has to be out more and there is a way to make up that time (staying after school, etc.) then she should do it. One of my brothers was hospitalized for a few weeks in first grade and when he returned, his teachers came in early and stayed with him after school to cover the material that he missed and get him on track. It wasn't a punishment, it was a chance to make up the time that he missed due to his medical problem. Just something for you to think about...focus on your daughter's health and wellness and then help her follow through with the school requirements (if needed) if/when they kick in.

I really don't understand why you're upset. The purpose of going to school is to learn. When a student is not at school, they miss out on what was covered during that time. It makes sense to help the student keep up with the learning. This requirement benefits your daughter.

You said you're a stickler for following rules. Perhaps you're looking at the requirement to make up class time as an unreasonable rule, a rule with which you disagree a rule you want to bend. Do you bend rules for others. Do you consider that there might be a reason for someone to react to a rule differently than you react? I suggest your reaction is about your conflict with others when you insist rules be followed. I would consider this situation as a reason for you to consider taking a different look about rules.

Been there done that with the never ending illnesses. While I understand your frustration I also see the school's side of things. Your daughter misses a lot by not being in the classroom. They have rules in place to help your child succeed. At thing point I'd sit your daughter down and let her know that she needs to attend all the rest of the days no matter what or she'll be making up classes. Think of this as a teaching moment when you step up and show your daughter that every illness doesn't mean you have to stay home.

I agree with JB also, but I have to ask... when does the semester end? Do you expect her to be sick again before then? This might be a lot of worrying over nothing. Unless she misses another day, she doesn't have to do ANYTHING. So, unless the semester runs until mid January or something, and you expect her to be sick again and miss more class... then what's the worry?
Even then, like JB, it would probably behoove her to take ADVANTAGE of the OPPORTUNITY to get some additional hours in on her school work to cover (revisit, review) some of the things she missed during her 10 days absent from school (if it comes up as an issue, she will have missed 10 days).

If a child is not in school, whether its because they're at Disneyland or home with the flu, it's an absence. It's perfectly reasonable for a teacher to count leaving school early due to strep throat as an absence. Teachers often don't make the rules; they follow the school administration's regulations. Schools don't discriminate when it comes to absences. A kid who's not there is a kid who's not there.

And most private schools disclose what public school policies they adhere to. For example, they might say that if the public schools are closed due to snow, so are they, and they don't have to post their own announcement. Many adhere to basic public school rules that don't interfere with their chosen curriculum and beliefs. So it sounds like your daughter's school is simply following the state attendance requirements.

Please don't try to get your daughter excused from adhering to the rules, or missing valuable lesson time. I think it's great that they are concerned about how much time she's missed, and that they're aware that she needs some catching-up. I'd be more concerned if the school didn't offer her a way to learn.

I would just like to point out that a private school might be legally exempt from following the Texas Code. But a private school might choose to accept that code as it's own rules. When you enroll your child, you choose to accept and follow the rules of that private school. So, if the school says that this is it's rule, then it's the rule.

Now, what do I think of the rule? Frankly, I think it's generous. My child's school (public in PA) says that a letter gets sent home after 10 missed days in the YEAR (not semester). And you can be reported to the magistrate for truancy after 15 absences - again, per year, not semester.

I don't understand, why don't you want her to make up the lost classroom time? It doesn't matter if she was sick or at Disneyland, she shouldn't miss out on whatever lessons happened on those days.

I understand your daughter accumulated the absences for a legitimate reason. Still, unless the school differentiates absences due to illnesses vs. other causes, it sounds fair to me.

Don't they also have a policy that kids can not attend school if they have a fever, diarrhea etc.

I got the call from our school's social work about excessive absences too. They threatened to retain my daughter despite the fact she was a straight A student and had doctor's notes for the absences. The social worker never even bothered to talk to my daughter's teacher. (my daughter had chronic sinusitis in 3rd grade and missed 42 days of school that year)

Who cares if private schools are exempt, the point of school is to learn. They are saying if she missed more they will make her learn, is this a bad thing? More so you said it is almost over so what is the big deal? Were you planning on letting her skip the day before break? of course not so what is the big deal?

You might need to determine excused versus unexcused absences. If she went to the doctor then they should write a note stating she is contagious when she is sick. That way those days out don't even count.

Our schools count half a day out if the kiddo is tardy, has an appointment then comes to school late, or leaves for an appointment in the afternoon.

I think you need to look at the school's absence policy and then go from there. If you need a doc's note all you have to do is call them.

this is the sort of thing that sets off my contrary nature (and the secondary reason i ended up homeschooling my kids) but having made the decision to entrust your child to this private school, is this really a hill worth dying on?
i mean, 9 absences is pretty lenient. and yes, if a kid misses that much school in a semester, they may well have skipped some important instruction and need to make it up.
in a perfect world the teacher would know precisely what had been skimped and have an individual plan for how your child would be exposed to precisely the information she needs to be current, but institutionalized educational facilities are not equipped to be that custom-tailored.
i doubt anyone is thinking that you were lackadaisical about her attendance. they're just looking at the amount of absences and concerned that your daughter may be behind.
rather than rifle through the code and try to get your daughter exempted, why not just work with the school to make sure, through extra home study or yes, making up a little class time, that she's on par with her class?
it just doesn't sound horribly unreasonable, even to contrary me.
khairete
S.

Everyone has to make up what they miss while they are out - whether its work or school. Of course she should already be making up the missed work. My kids do.

I have one kid who has a lot of issues going on and she misses a lot, she's also in the STEM program so it moves quickly. Her teachers always work with her (and she is dedicated as well) to get things caught up. She gets ahead when she knows she is going to be out for an appointment.

Whether your kid was sick or at a party, she should be making up the work missed. I don't see the issue here.