Changing School
School Enrollment is a Legal Custody Issue
If you and the other parent have joint legal custody of your children, major decisions, such as which school your child will attend, must be made jointly.
Maintain Status Quo
If your child is already enrolled in a school district and you would like to change the child's school, you and the other parent must agree. If the other parent does not agree, you must maintain the status quo - which means the child must remain in the current school district. You must file a motion and request a court order.
If your child has not yet started school but is approaching school age, you should discuss school enrollment with the other parent well in advance of the new school year. Do not wait until the last minute to address this issue.
Pre-Mandatory School Attendance
Michigan compulsory attendance law requires a parent, legal guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child age 6 to 16 to send the child to school, to a state-approved, nonpublic school or educate the child at home in an organized educational program. MCL 380.1147
A child who is at lease 5 years old by December 1 may be enrolled in kindergarten, however, the compulsory school attendance law does not apply to children under the age of 6. If you and the other parent share joint legal custody, any enrollment in a pre-school program should be discussed and agreed upon. If you and the other parent cannot agree, either or both parents may file a motion and ask the court to decide.
If you and the other parent have joint legal custody of your children, major decisions, such as which school your child will attend, must be made jointly.
Maintain Status Quo
If your child is already enrolled in a school district and you would like to change the child's school, you and the other parent must agree. If the other parent does not agree, you must maintain the status quo - which means the child must remain in the current school district. You must file a motion and request a court order.
If your child has not yet started school but is approaching school age, you should discuss school enrollment with the other parent well in advance of the new school year. Do not wait until the last minute to address this issue.
Pre-Mandatory School Attendance
Michigan compulsory attendance law requires a parent, legal guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child age 6 to 16 to send the child to school, to a state-approved, nonpublic school or educate the child at home in an organized educational program. MCL 380.1147
A child who is at lease 5 years old by December 1 may be enrolled in kindergarten, however, the compulsory school attendance law does not apply to children under the age of 6. If you and the other parent share joint legal custody, any enrollment in a pre-school program should be discussed and agreed upon. If you and the other parent cannot agree, either or both parents may file a motion and ask the court to decide.