Itruancy?

.

NO. WAY. Really?

What a SHAMEFUL use of taxpayers dollars.

I'm sorry T., maybe it's a mistake? I hope you'll raise Holy Hell.

Honestly. So MUCH injustice to children in the world, and THIS is how we're going to fight it? That's just an embarrassment to the American Court System.

Seethe.

:(

You've gotta be kidding me!! What's next? Are they going to handcuff your child? Woops, Wait a minute ...

What the hell? I'd be calling the media. Pre-k is more like a daycare, not even remotely required.

When you go, they are going to ask you what the problem is and why you cannot arrive on time.

Tell them what you wrote here.

The next question is going to be. "what are you going to do to fix this situation"

So make sure you have an answer. Mine would be wake my daughter up earlier and start on my way to school earlier.

When your child is even just 5 minutes late to school. The teacher has to stop class and bring your child up to speed. Especially if everyone else was there on time.

Time is limited since it is only half a day, and some parents do think pre K is important. That is why they signed up. It cost the taxpayers money. If you are in private school. The parents pay even more.

Just consider all of this. Some parents just never understand this is your chance, to make this better. Imagine, very few parents get called in for truancy.

We got those notices back before we started homeschooling. Our teacher rocked and write us notes for them, and then held a meeting for parents to learn to combat the school board when they tried to expel 2/3s of the K class for number of absent days (flu season).

It's, in a word, stupid.

Get the media involved of it doesn't get quashed. Parents are SICK of their rights to make the best choices for their families being eroded.

Wow... this is really really really crazy.

You are now summoned to court.
Ya gotta document everything, perhaps take photos of the traffic back-up, and that everyone is STUCK in that traffic. Hence being late.
And geez, you were only less than 5 minutes late.

You gotta fight this, which you already know.

Call your newspaper, hold a news conference! LOL

this makes me foot-stompin' spitting wild-eyed crazy mad.
you may well not want the hassle.
but i'd be creating a media blitz about this. everyone from the ACLU to focus on the family.
even if this child WAS in mandatory schooling, it would be ridiculous. is this your child, or the state's?
i hope you kick their asses from here tahelangone.
khairete
S.

I bet you will figure a way to get her on time from now on. It is possible.

Totally ridiculous! I was thinking the same thing, that preschool isn't even mandated. Keep us posted I am curious to know what happens. If it were me personally I would probably just pull her out of the program and be done for the year, unless it is going to screw up a daycare schedule for you or something...

Ouch! I remember when I saw the truancy warning that came home on the first day of school talking about court, fines and everything else. That scared the HELL out of me. I don't care what's going on, I make sure she gets to school on time.

But geesh, criminal negligence is a bit much. Is there any way you can ask to get the traffic cop back? Has other parents had the same problem because of this?

First of all, it is not the school making this decision.... it is the district based upon funding cuts which have come from the state. Unfortunately it is the realities of schools today. Schools receive federal funding on a per pupil basis daily (I am currently taking a data driven decision making course in my Master's program, and just read about this yesterday). But it only counts if they are present. If they are absent or tardy they do not receive the funding, and, for example, at my campus, anything beyond 2 minutes tardy there is no federal funding that day for that student. As a result of the changes in federal funding per child, districts need to find ways to make that lost money back or they have to take it out of their budgets. It is crazy, and it's hard because in your mind it is just one child, but if it is three children per class, times the number of days in the school year, times the number of classes in the school, times the number of schools in the district..... then it is a little easier to see what the districts are facing.
The district policies are usually spelled out in the handbooks, and the attendance policies are clear. At my district, pre-k is soemthing we pay for, so it is held to different standards. Check your handbook for their specific guidelines.

This is unbelievable. Un-f@&$king-believable. I agree with Theresa.

Good luck T.. The system is obviously f%#ked.

*I would like to apologise for all the icon swearing I've been doing here recently. Sometimes it's like I don't give a s@&t.*

????????

That's absurd, T.!!!

I'm floored by that!!

Our tax dollars at work, there. Sigh...

Good God it is pre school. I have never ever heard of anything like this.
I could understand if the teacher commented to you about being late, but a
summons to come to court. I am really speechless! You will definitely
have to let us know what happens. If I am paying for this preschool/daycare, I do not think I should be taken to court because I was
late three mornings out of 20!!! Do these schools have nothing better to do
than file for court dates. Maybe you need to find another preschool.

And therein lies the problem with "zero tolerance" policies. Anyone can get burned by it. The sad thing is, the real problem people who they institute these policies for STILL don't care.

For real???? Pre K isn't even required. So how can this be criminal in any way? Why would anyone even care? I would NOT send her back there period. I would look for a FLEXIBLE and friendly program. Who even cares if she misses school. My son's preschool appreciated notice if he would be absent or was sick. They could not have cared less what time we came - they opened at 6:00 am. We came between 8:45 and 10:30 am on most days.

'I bet you will figure out a way to be time from now on.' Oh - that would so NOT be me. A meeting with the director about how ridiculous this is - that would be more likely.

To be honest, the school does not get paid for your child's attendance that day so they are trying to prove a point. In addition if you were late you work 3 times in a 4wk period would you not get written up? If you are aware the traffic cop has been removed and that children can easily cause for delay would you not arrange your schedule to give you more wiggle room for that? Mornings my son gets out of the house with out a big fuss and holds up his end of the bargain he gets to bring the 3DS in the car and play while we wait for drop off in the line. I suggest you do what you need to do to fight it, but also respect the issue by understanding all sides. I feel both parties are at fault here and you should own up to what you could have done to improve the situation.

Is this a Texas thing? I have to fight like crazy to get my kids school to crack down on their dad getting them there late. They said they can't even call him until they are at risk for being held back. :(

The thing I don't get is how can he be truant for that which is not required by law? I guess you are trying to figure that out too. :(

My friend got a warning last year for her son that was in pre k for absences. Those were because he kept getting sick from being at school since he'd never even gone to daycare. And several of the days they sent him home sick and said he could not come back the next day. No pre k is not required but once enrolled you have to abide by their attendance rule. I agree it's crazy and I am not sure if all states are like that but I know TX is. It is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You aren't truant if she attended school those days. There is a big difference between being late and not being there at all!

Check the school policy book or web page to see what the policy and definition for truancy actually is. Also check the school district's policy and definition for truancy. I suspect someone made a clerical mistake at the principal's office, or someone doesn't know how to interpret the district or school's policy, or perhaps there is a disconnect between the school's policy and what the district requires. What ever the deal you need to find out ASAP.

Others also bring up a good point about the mandatory attendance age. I don't know the age in Texas, but if she's in preschool, I'll bet she isn't there yet.

Sounds like a bad office mix up. If worse comes to worse, find an attorney well versed in education law for advice. This is one of those things that could spiral out of control real quick if you don't get on it right away and in the right way. You may have problems with CPS or worse, so don't waste time getting to the bottom of this.

You probably have to appear, but I would also go to the school and find out what's going on here. Is she listed as ABSENT for those days or what. I'd verify her attendance record and refute any wrong entries before going to court. And if there's a different way you should drop her off, then find out before you end up in court again.

The loss of the cop is annoying, but it means you'll have to get her out the door that much earlier. At her age, I'd just pick her up and put her in the car - even if it means she didn't get her teeth brushed or something.

Hmmmm..... Government at it's best

Talk to the school - they know there is a backup, and they should have a policy in place re. this type of thing. Find out what you can from the school about this lateness issue, and if other parents experienced it, etc. The more info you have, the easier it will be.

And I would call the court or whatever number is on the summons, with the tone of a mom who wants to make sure her kid's on the right path and wants help, to find out what you can do to make this stuff short/sweet, etc. Use the phrase "I need your help; I don't know of you can help me with this, but if you can, that would be great". For some reason, saying this makes people relax because you won't attack them if they can't help - it gives them permission to try without fear of a blasting.

Good luck!

r u paying tuition?? if you are paying you can choose to send or not to send her your choice.. but if the state is paying for headstart or some other free preschool they might have some valid reason for hte court..