Do You Have To Call In To School When Your Child Is Absent...?

I have to call any of my kids in if they are absent. The elementary school secretary is very cool about it. She doesn't pry. She'll just assume they are sick and take their names. The middle school however, acts like it's doggone crime! It's just something in the way the secretaries answer the phone and ask you why your kid is staying home that makes you feel like you're letting your kid play hooky or something. I mean granted at that age some kids do try to trick the school and have fake call-ins but sheez, I'm the parent! There's been a cpl times where I've had to pull the kids out for family reasons and I just tell the secretaries that their sick - it's the easiest way to get past em!

Yes, if my kids are going to be absent, I have to call the school and let them know. We have moved a lot and my kids have went to several different schools because of it. All of them had this same rule, that I had to call and let them know if one of them was going to be absent. I think a lot of schools have that rule now. I don't why, when I was in school, all I needed was a note from my mom or dad to take back to school on the day I returned. I also don't understand the concept of giving an unexcused absense to a preschool, kindergarten level or any young child in a low grade level. Nine times out of ten, if not ten out of ten, if a child that young is not in school, it's because their parents or guardians choose not to send them for whatever reason. How can a school justify giving a child an unexcused absense for a decision that their parents made? I know some schools do it if they see fit or don't like the reason given for the child being absent, but I just do not understand how they justify it.

With my kids school, all I have to do is write a note for the following day to let the school know why my child wasn't there and it's still marked as a unexcused absense. Only time it will ever be marked as a excused absense is a note from a doctor. I found out a few days ago, that they have a new security system. I have to stand on the foot prints, buzz the office, the place my id card near the camera before entering the school. To me that seems more like a prison than a school.

Yes we have to. My son is in Kindergarten and goes to a public school. There is a attendance line we call before 8am to leave a message if our child is not going to be in that day. If it's after 8am then we call the main office and leave a message with whomever answers the phone. I think its out of courtesy we do that and also if there are emergencies at the school, the office knows immediately who is in class and who isn't. I would think that would be the main reason why we have to.

My daughter was in private school when she was younger but they did not require that I call in if she was not there. Her public schools have always required a note after the fact but not before. She is now is high school and if she even misses one class I will get a recorded message telling me what class she missed or if she is out for a day I get that recording. I think it is good the school is letting the parents of older kids know when the kid is out of school. It helps curtail skipping as much I do believe

My 7 children are in a school district where they call you to let you know your child was not at school. Now this is wonderful for teenagers, but kindergarteners? It is always an automated message. They also send messages for bomb threats and emergency dismissals via this automated messaging system. Ofcourse, you are reminded in this message that your child has to bring a not to school when they return from any absence.

I have always had to call and let them know if my daughter was not going to be in daycare. Now that she's in third grade I have had to call ever since she started school to let them know if she is going to be absent. It has always been that way as far as i know. Even when I was a kid if my brother or myself was sick my mom would have to call the school to let them know that we wouldn't be there.

My kids are homeschooled so this is not something I have to personally deal with, but I do have some thought on the issue. First, I would be glad that they require/request a call from you if your child will be absent, especially if they rely on transportation from someone other than you. If you do not call, do they call you if they do not show up? If you are relying on a bus or someone else to take them to school, the phone call lets them know that you are aware that your child is home. If they do not hear from you, they have no way of knowing whether something has happened along the way. It also helps them to know whether or not your child may just be coming late. I know when I am expecting someone and they just don't show up, I wonder if they are just running late or not coming at all. A phone call to let me know would always be appreciated. As for excused and unexcused absences, I am willing to bet that most schools allow more excused absences than unexcused before kicking a child out. As for the public school, it may affect their state funding as well. I do not mean for any of this to sound mean. I am just sharing some thoughts from when I worked in a school setting and just my own experiences from life itself.

Yes, that is how it is pretty much everywhere. I know it can be a pain but it is also a safety precaution. Some kids take the bus or get a ride in with someone other than the parents. As they get older, some walk. With all the stories you hear on the news, you just cant be too safe. If something were to happen to your child between home and school and the school just assumed the child was home sick and you assumed that the child were in school, well, much time can pass before anyone is aware the child is missing.

Even it's not a must, I always try t call the school to let them know that my kid can't go to school.

At my two eldest school you have to phone in to let them know that they are not going to be in. If you don't they will phone you to find out where your child is. I think that they have been having a few problems with children trauntry thats why they want you to phone so they know you child has a valid reason for being off. My youngest twos school are quite happy with the child bringing a letter to explain thier absent when they return to school.

Yes we are supposed to ring in school to report our childs absence! I often forget, and sometimes they will ring me to ask where they are. I have to cover their absenses though or else it goes down as unauthorised and if they get too many of them then the welfare are informed. I usually just send them in with a letter to give to the teacher the next day. My children do not go to private school though they are just in ordinary schools.

Yes, I think as a parent, it is your responsibility to monitor your children on what is happening in their schooling. Attendance is very important because without the presence of student inside the classroom, he/she cannot just only be marked absent but at the same time, he/she will not learn what has been discussed that day. Also, when an excuse letter is presented, the school has the obligation to give the student a special assignment or task to do to cope with the discussions or exams or test he or she missed. Parents should call because it is one way of knowing whether your child is present and active in class. Also to know the activities in school that your son or daughter is involved in. This is to guide them on their schooling and not to give parents a surprise that their children is doing something against the school.

As far as im aware my eldests private preschool does not require me to ring me in if she will be absent, I do it simply to be polite. I will also ring back the next day (if off more than one day) and let them know when she will be back. Having worked in private daycare I found it easier to know exactly who would and wouldnt be in to plan aorund it. Plus when they start school all days absent must be phoned in and explained so think its good practise to do it now and get used to it.

We are suppose to call in when he is out sick but the school acts like it is a huge hassle when you call and I am not sure they really tack it. In this school system the excused absences do not count towards the kick out number unless they are really excessive.

That's the first time I hear of a system like that. Normally it's enough to give the child a note with him / her the following day.

i think the system isn't just, if the scool teacher can't attract the children and make them stay at school happily, what he teachers and headmasters should do is to improve their way of teaching , that's their responsibility ,isn't it. and as the custody is delivered to the teachers momentarily, the teachers should inform the parents as long as they find children's absence

At my son's school you are supposed to call if your child is not going to be at school that day. I don't always get a hold of them though. I swear the phone at my son's school is always busy. If I don;t get through I just send him with a note the next day.

If my daughter is going to be gone I have to call her transportation and the preschol my son just the elementary school. They need to account for every child and make sure everything is alright that is why you need to call.

Yes. It is not only to show them respect. They also have the right to know, why do your child is absent. It is excuse mark if it is reasonable or unexcusable when just feel lazy and don't want to go to school. This is also one way to inform them that your child is in the house and not on the park. On the side of the school, if they hear nothing from the parent or why the child is absent, it is there obligation to inform the parents. It is some kind of cooperation to monitor their child because some child are naughty saying they attend the class even they are not.