Want to switch daughter's school

[CJane]

I think that you should have a conversation with an attorney regarding the school issue.

One of my daughters is attending an accredited public school online, and I was told by an attorney and a judge that as long as she was enrolled in school, and using my address, it didn't matter what school she attended. F I.wanted to homeschool, or send the kids to parochial school, that would require a different conversation. But, at least in my case, public school is public school.

 

[maneki]

I don't understand why you think Dad should NOT have a say in how his (also) child is educated. Why is this change necessary? Good? Favorable?

Like I've tried to explain, I don't personally see changing from one public school to another public school, regardless of format, as a "major decision". If I was saying I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her then I'd see it as a major decision since they has a lot more repercussions. I do think homeschooling is a wonderful option but it's also not necessarily consistent because there isn't the standard curriculum, therefore a "major decision".

I think that you should have a conversation with an attorney regarding the school issue.

One of my daughters is attending an accredited public school online, and I was told by an attorney and a judge that as long as she was enrolled in school, and using my address, it didn't matter what school she attended. F I.wanted to homeschool, or send the kids to parochial school, that would require a different conversation. But, at least in my case, public school is public school.

This is what I had been told prior to coming here for clarification. So perhaps it is different depending on location?

 

[stealth2]

Like I've tried to explain, I don't personally see changing from one public school to another public school, regardless of format, as a "major decision". If I was saying I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her then I'd see it as a major decision since they has a lot more repercussions. I do think homeschooling is a wonderful option but it's also not necessarily consistent because there isn't the standard curriculum, therefore a "major decision".

That doesn't really answer my question, so let me put it differently. Suppose you were in his shoes, and he was the one making this decision - would you not like/expect him to discuss it with you?

 

[CJane]

There's a difference though, between discussing, and one parent unilaterally deciding the answer is no, even when there is no impact on that parent.

I suspect, if Mom pushed the issue, a couple of things coukd happen. 1) the judge woukd determine that each parent can decid what school the child attends during that parent's year, 2) the court determines this is a horrible custody arrangement, and orders something more normal and stable which results in no jumping of schools every year, 3) the court determines the child should attend X school, regardless, and getting her there is the parents' problem.

 

[stealth2]

There's a difference though, between discussing, and one parent unilaterally deciding the answer is no, even when there is no impact on that parent.

I suspect, if Mom pushed the issue, a couple of things coukd happen. 1) the judge woukd determine that each parent can decid what school the child attends during that parent's year, 2) the court determines this is a horrible custody arrangement, and orders something more normal and stable which results in no jumping of schools every year, 3) the court determines the child should attend X school, regardless, and getting her there is the parents' problem.

I don't disagree. But OP is making the unilateral decision.

 

[maneki]

Actually I'm not making an unilateral decision. As I even mentioned in the first post I was meeting with him today to discuss it. I do think though, as long as it's a safe situation and no possible harm to the child, that the custodial parent should have the final say in things that don't directly impact the other parent. I understand discussing it and hoping to be on board together, obviously that's the ideal, but when it comes down to where all one parent has to do is say "no" and the other parent's hands are tied, I don't see that as effective. Especially in situations where one parent (my ex) has already stated, flat out, that he will very likely refuse any suggestions I make simply because I'm the one making them.

Personally I'd prefer a better custody arrangement but this is the one the courts granted us and right now neither of us honestly has the money for a lawyer and more court fees. So we're doing the best we can with a crappy situation.

 

[t74]

Online school does not happen without parental supervision even if the parent is not providing the instruction. This frequently impacts the supervising parent's ability to work. It certainly could be the case that the father does not want the child making the change from online to traditional school at the change of primary residence each year because he is unavailable to participate in an online program as needed.

Could enrollment in online school affect child support order - such as requirements to pay for the supplemental activities you say you want to utilize which are part of the traditional school curriculum? Does the child need special services that would not be available outside the traditional building that would then need to be purchased elsewhere?

OP may also see the school program problems as an attempt by OP to obtain greater custody.