Can my 18 y.o. legally sign herself out of school?

[Anonymous]

--- for things like doctor's appointments, etc., or do I still need to call the school and give permission? I can't find anything in Fairfax County policy.

[Anonymous]

Nevermind. FCPS says no.

[Anonymous]

Really? I don't see how they *can't* allow this. An 18-year-old is a legal adult. She is not required to have a guardian.

APS allowed my 18-year-old to sign out for doctor's appointments. Or at least that's what DS told me--he signed himself out and met me at the dentist or doctor several times last spring after he turned 18. I never got a call about an unexcused absence.

[Anonymous]

My 13 yr old now in 8th grade leaves early, and has done this since 6th grade. In 6th I would call or email the school to say "She will need to leave at 2:15 for a dentist appointment." But now she just tells them.

[Anonymous]

Mine is 18. The answer is that he can legally do what he wants. But the school doesn't have to tolerate it.

I called my 18 yo in for a dentist appointment this morning. He had a note from the dentist going back, but left it in my car, currently he has an unexcused tardy until he brings the note in tomorrow and gets it reversed.

[Anonymous]

MCPS has an "Eligible Student Form" where the student signs that they are 18 and are asserting their FERPA rights and their signature should be valid for absence notes, permission forms, records release, etc. Admin verifies the birth date and signs off and that's that. Parent does not sign. So yes, in MCPS this would be allowed.

[Anonymous]

What is FERPA?

[Anonymous]

No, in loco parentis and all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is FERPA?

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act --> privacy protection of an education record

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, in loco parentis and all that.

At 18 they are no longer under the authority of the parents at all though, right? Our district had a form that the newly-18 year old student could place on file in order to be able to sign out/write their own absence notes/be responsible for their own school records/etc. Seems to me a legal adult not only wouldn't, but shouldn't be required by the school to have anyone else involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 13 yr old now in 8th grade leaves early, and has done this since 6th grade. In 6th I would call or email the school to say "She will need to leave at 2:15 for a dentist appointment." But now she just tells them.

Your kid must be in private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 yr old now in 8th grade leaves early, and has done this since 6th grade. In 6th I would call or email the school to say "She will need to leave at 2:15 for a dentist appointment." But now she just tells them.

Your kid must be in private school.

Public school in San Francisco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Public school in San Francisco.

Then how is your comment helpful?

[Anonymous]

If your school nurse can legally take your 13 year old child out of school without your permission or knowledge to get an abortion, I do not see how they legally can prevent your 18 year old adult from signing herself out for any reason whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Some schools let kids sign an "18 year old declaration" that allows them to dismiss themselves from school if they are sick, have an appointment, etc. Basically means if they come into the clinic, they can leave without a parent being contacted or giving permission. At least one local school suspended this privilege because so many kids abused it. It also meant parents didn't need to sign field trip forms.