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The Process of Removing Your Troubled Teen From Public School

There comes a time for some parents where they discover that public school is not the right place for their troubled teen. As the U.S. public school system suffers from overcrowding and under-funding, this is not a surprising occurrence. So, if you have decided your teen would be best served by being withdrawn from public school, to be placed in a residential treatment center or another private schooling facility, we want to make the transition as easy as possible for your family.

Laws Surrounding Removing Your Teen From Public School

As a parent, there are not many people who need to be consulted before you make the decision to withdraw your child from public school. From family members to your teen’s friends, the only ones who really need that information is your state government.

Compulsory education laws vary from state-to-state. For instance, Texas has fairly relaxed compulsory education regulations, with minimal oversight. However, states like Pennsylvania have stringent laws where approval must be given at the state level before your child can leave the public school system. Parents who neglect to do this can be fined and possibly jailed.

So, before you being the withdrawal of your teenager, be sure you check your state’s compulsory education laws.

Writing A Letter Of Withdrawal To Your Teen’s School

While you can call your child’s school or go in person, we recommend you write a notarized letter. This is effective for a couple reasons:

  1. Paper trail – Whether on purpose or not, a phone call regarding your teen’s withdrawal can be forgotten. If the police are notified, it can become difficult if you have nothing physical to prove that you did in fact notify your local school district. Writing a physical letter where you retain a copy can negate this issue.

  2. Higher credibility – Having your withdrawal letter notarized adds a level of credibility. For those who live in states with strict education laws, having your letter notarized can also help cut through some red tape. Many banks and libraries will perform a notarization for free.

There is no official template you need to follow to write an effective withdrawal letter. To help you formulate your thoughts, you can use the below template.