Can My Child Quit School Wthout My Consent

by Charles from Fort Pierce, Florida, St Lucie County

My son's mother let my child quit High School at the age of 16 with out my consent nor was I told of this until my son told me they held this from me. I threatened to take her to court if he did not go back to school and she put him back in for 2 months then let him just quit again.

My question is can I have child support stopped?

Answer to Florida Child Custody Question

Dear Charles,

No, it is very unlikely that you may stop child support because your son refuses to go to high school.

Your Final Order for Dissolution of Marriage, if it is a Florida Court Order, very likely states that you must pay child support until he reaches the age of eighteen, or age nineteen if he is still enrolled in school.

This does not mean that you may suspend payments because he is sixteen and not enrolled in school.

There are often a few circumstances included in the Final Order for Dissolution that would allow you to stop paying child support, such as the child marries, becomes self supporting, or joins the military.

I suspect that it is also included in your Parenting Plan that you are to be advised of all matters relating to your child's education. The fact of the matter is that it is difficult for anyone to force a sixteen year old to go to school.

My suggestion is that, first you put aside your justifiable anger, and second you discuss with your son his reasons for dropping out of school. You might be surprised.

High school isn't what it used to be. I have heard of all manner of activities taking place at some of the best Florida schools -- from knife fights in the parking lot, to sex in the bathrooms. Perhaps, there are valid reasons that your son does not want to attend school.

Once you've had an honest conversation with your son about his reasons for quitting school, your next step is to try and find a reasonable alternative to traditional high school.

There is no doubt that your son needs and deserves an education, even though he doesn't want to attend traditional high school.

Many community colleges offer GED preparation courses; homeschooling could an option; and there is also a free state accredited virtual school called Florida Virtual School.

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