Can I give my almost 15 year old son permission to drop out of school until next year? He'll restart next year

Question

He's had serious mental medical issues this year including doctor having him on the wrong medicine. He's been expelled and they want him to go to school where all the Juvinile Hall kids go to school I feel this will not be good for him mentally. I need to know if I can give him permission to drop out for the rest of this year and restart next semester. We know he'll have to repeat this school year and we're willing to do this. This is also in the state of Texas if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any help.
Lann

I have already asked the school to do homebound school until his medication problem was resolved and they refused. I can't seem to find any laws regarding this. I don't want my son with Juvenile Hall kids. He's already got enough mental problems including Anxiety induced Hallucinations and Psychoitc disorder. I fear this will only make it worse. He's scared to go to school there and so now he's acting out because of that. I can't seem to find any laws regarding this for here in Texas and it's making it difficult as I try to decide what to do and how to do it.

Am I able to do it legally? Take him out that is?

Also, doesn't the school have to approve him being home school or the homeschool program?

I saw a comment about the cause of him being sent there. After his teacher had gotten in his face, then continued poking him on the shoulder, and then tried to force him to the classroom, my son took a swing at him. He missed and hit the brick wall, but they are charging him with felony assualt now. They arrested him, did NOT read him his rights, did not have either legal representative or a guardian present. The school did NOT comply with his ARD that was in place that stated to call his mother (me) if he was having a bad day at school. They finally called me after the police were there and arresting him and they had half a day to call me because they told me they had the problems all morning long. I hold the school responsible and I'm dealing with that part, but in the mean time, I'm trying to do what is best for my son Medically as this will set his mental condition back a lot.

Answer 1

Homeschool Legal Defense Association has all of the laws that each state has regarding home-teaching. ("homeschool")
You can check out Texas state laws there.

www.hslda.org

YOU are that childs parent. The state should NOT be allowed to tell you what is best for your son.
I hope you and your family find peace.

Answer 2

You may homeschool your child whenever you want... there are many independent home school programs in the country, and you do not have to have the school's approval to do such. Now, you'll want to choose a homeschool program that is familiar with the graduation standards in your state, since you'll want to keep your son on the graduation track for when he returns to school. If he has been expelled from school, that means they won't let him return to the same school again at all. You'll have to find another high school in the area for him to attend next year. Many high schools are not willing to make the extra effort it takes to work with a child with a mental/medical/special need. Does your son have a 504 Plan or IEP that documents what he needs to have accomodated for him to succeed in school? If not, look into getting a 504 Plan implemented for him. It covers disabilities and other conditions (such as ADD, dyslexia, mental disorders, etc.) that are not covered under the Federal disabilities program. It can stipulate specific accommodations (such as for proceedures of what to do when there is a problem) for the school to follow. If they do not follow it, then they can be held accountable. It gives guidelines for what needs to happen for your son to be successful in school. Talk to a lawyer about setting one up, or through the school district. If you have documentation of the medical stuff your son has gone through that is causing the problems at school, take that with you. Here is a site I found that gives you more details on Texas' policies for homeschooling, and you should be able to get more information from the Texas Department of Education website. Good luck!
http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/Texas.shtml#TexasHomeSchoolLegal

Answer 3

Sounds a little dangerous, are you sure he'll restart again? I'd say go for it. I agree with you that being around Juvey Hall kids would not be good for him, it often exposes kids to more negative and opens more wrong paths to go down. I'm pretty sure it's against the law for a child to not have schooling, so you'd probably have to have him home schooled or hire a private tutor. Then he wouldn't be behind a year when he restarts. What would he be doing all day while not in school? If there's not an adult to supervise him, he's very likely to get into trouble anyway.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Yeah I agree with homeschooling, and you can't swing a dead cat in Texas without running into someone who knows alot about that due to the strong religious convictions here.

Alternative school is not very good as a learning environment. It is a second/last chance for some and your son may have done something to deserve going there, but in the end you have to deal wtih the health issues. Alternative schools are good about getting kids caught up with their grade level, but the way they do that is debatable, I personally think it is by watering down the curriculum. They do focus on other skills like anger management etc. Last warning is that with a bunch of other unruly teens there, it can be a way for him to fall in with the bad crowd, or learn how to be more like them.

If he can handle it, you can also try online, or independent study high school. He would have to be focussed and determined to challenge himself, also a lot of self-discipline required of the student here.

Answer 5

In NY a student must be 16 and have a parent's signature to drop out. Rather than pulling him out, can you speak to his guidance counselor/social worker and/or principal at the school and request home schooling (by a teacher or teachers) rather than signing him out. Most likely they are suggesting this because he missed so much time already and it's not a good idea to go back into the regular program. I would try to get him on home schooling first. Keep in mind that just because you pull him out, it doesn't mean they won't put him back into that same program next year. There may be other reasons. I would have a sit down with his counselor and principal to get the whole picture.

Answer 6

At his age he might be able to go on "independent study" for the school year because of health. It is sort of like "home schooling" in that he will be doing the work at home but will be getting his assignments from school. My niece did this when she was doing gymnastics and traveling quite a bit during the school year. The instructors would send a list of assignments with completion dates to the counselor for her to pick up she would complete them and turn them into the counselor to give to the instructors. She even had to participate in class projects.

Answer 7

First of all, get a good doctor, so you can be sure he will get the right medicine and best treatment. Perhaps he'll need psychological and/or psychiatric assistance. Allowing him to drop out of school, unless the doctor indicates it, won´t make him any good. Probably he'll never restart. Remember, leisure is the mother from all vices.

Answer 8

you do what you feel right is for your child. If you feel it is necessary to do it then go for it. Explain to the school that you are withdrawling your son but he will be back next semester. See if they can give you some homework for him to do while he is out so he doesn't fall too far behind. See if you two can keep in touch with teachers and see if they will work with your son. Good luck

Answer 9

When I got expelled from High School, my parents shipped me off to Job Corps. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I finished my GED and got into a program of my career choice. I am now a college student!

Answer 10

Although I think that is a very justifiable reason to do so. Unfortunately he has to be 16 in any state, even with parents permission. If it's absolutely necessary take it before your local school board or discuss his options with either the principal or school counselor.