Time Out of School for a WDW Vacation

Any time you take your kids out of school a lot of factors come into play. Some parents don't hesitate to plan their vacation during school session; while others would not consider their kids missing school for a second. We'll try and cover both sides of the argument.

Grade Level of the Child
A parent might have no qualms about pulling a child out of kindergarten/infant school for a week. For a high school student, this will probably come down to the time of year. But what about those middle grades, like fourth, fifth, sixth? Tough call; the teacher should be consulted.

Time of the Academic Year
The weeks before the summer break is when our school sends the kids on trips with the school, so there is little or no impact to their schooling. The flip side is, you won't want to take your kids out on the first weeks after the summer holidays.

Sign-up Times
Even a short absence may mean that your child misses a critical period for signing up for sports or other activities.

Child's School Performance
Certainly a child already struggling to learn should not be taken away from class.

Length of Absence
A couple of days is never really going to have a major impact.

Educational Value of the Travel
Could your child benefit more from a week or so traveling than they could in school? After all, travel broadens the mind.

According to the Travel Industry Association travel poll:

• 46% of parents likely to take their kids out of school had a similar travel opportunity when they were a child.
• Parents who have studied for, or attained a masters degree, are more likely to let their children miss school to travel.

These figures seem to paint a picture of educated parents who believe that the gains from family travel experiences may justify some truancy.

Consider the Teachers too
If you do decide to travel during school days, remember to consider your children's teachers and the extra work that your child's re-entry to school will mean for them. Definitely, discuss the trip with teachers before you go. With an extended trip, perhaps your kids can make a class presentation, or do a project, based on their travels once they're back. Or, perhaps the teacher will want them to take school work along with them on the trip.

Bottom line: talk to your teachers; weigh your pluses and minuses.

Last Updated: May 9, 2009