Any experience of walking away from a school contract?

[Anonymous]

We did it because of a late opening at our child's preferred school, which occurred after the contract closing period.

We called the head of the school we were committed to, had a very frank conversation with them, and they released us from our obligation. We were candid about our hope that the school would let us out of the contract, but made clear that we were prepared to honor our financial commitment if not. No silly excuses or claims.

Honesty is the best policy, folks. We signed an agreement, and were beholden to it. Simple as that. If you don't think you want your kid to be there, or are holding out for something else, don't sign the agreement. Be an adult and a model for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of anyone successfully not having to pay when doing this.

This. Contracts written to preclude any exit.

[Anonymous]

People are really overreacting here. If a school has a long waiting list and can easily fill your child’s seat with a full-pay student, they’re not going to be able to show injury. Most jurisdictions require the non breaching party to mitigate damages. If the school knows they can fill the seat, it’s unlikely they’re going to sue for tuition.

[Anonymous]

We settled at 33%. No attorneys not too much drama. We explained our concerns and said we did not want to be a part of the community going forward.

I understand we signed a contract but we were blindsided by new information regarding class size and teacher assignments, lack of qualified long term substitute for known maternity leave. We were told they didn’t need a qualified substitute because the returning mother would catch up the students after maternity leave. I to this day wonder if 33% was too much money to pay them. They filled the spot with a late applicant.

[Anonymous]

You can check for lawsuits in your local court records.

We were looking at a house in Bethesda and saw the seller were sued by Langley School in McLean, VA for not paying contract. The family had moved over the summer and allegedly didn’t want to do the commute to McLean. The family said there were issues with education not commute issue. There was some procedural issue so the case dragged on for a while and was eventually settled. No information on settlement. But they were definitely sued.

[Anonymous]

Check your contract to see if you’ve already agreed to binding arbitration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did it because of a late opening at our child's preferred school, which occurred after the contract closing period.

We called the head of the school we were committed to, had a very frank conversation with them, and they released us from our obligation. We were candid about our hope that the school would let us out of the contract, but made clear that we were prepared to honor our financial commitment if not. No silly excuses or claims.

Honesty is the best policy, folks. We signed an agreement, and were beholden to it. Simple as that. If you don't think you want your kid to be there, or are holding out for something else, don't sign the agreement. Be an adult and a model for your kids.

I have never personally had to do it, but this is the only way I have heard people experience it... this thread is making me realize that apparently I only gravitate towards people who handle things like adults 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did it because of a late opening at our child's preferred school, which occurred after the contract closing period.

We called the head of the school we were committed to, had a very frank conversation with them, and they released us from our obligation. We were candid about our hope that the school would let us out of the contract, but made clear that we were prepared to honor our financial commitment if not. No silly excuses or claims.

Honesty is the best policy, folks. We signed an agreement, and were beholden to it. Simple as that. If you don't think you want your kid to be there, or are holding out for something else, don't sign the agreement. Be an adult and a model for your kids.

I have never personally had to do it, but this is the only way I have heard people experience it... this thread is making me realize that apparently I only gravitate towards people who handle things like adults 😂

...Or you gravitate towards people that don't have better options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did it because of a late opening at our child's preferred school, which occurred after the contract closing period.

We called the head of the school we were committed to, had a very frank conversation with them, and they released us from our obligation. We were candid about our hope that the school would let us out of the contract, but made clear that we were prepared to honor our financial commitment if not. No silly excuses or claims.

Honesty is the best policy, folks. We signed an agreement, and were beholden to it. Simple as that. If you don't think you want your kid to be there, or are holding out for something else, don't sign the agreement. Be an adult and a model for your kids.

I have never personally had to do it, but this is the only way I have heard people experience it... this thread is making me realize that apparently I only gravitate towards people who handle things like adults 😂

...Or you gravitate towards people that don't have better options.

Clearly they did have better options, and they were able to take those better options because they handled things like rational adults

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did it because of a late opening at our child's preferred school, which occurred after the contract closing period.

We called the head of the school we were committed to, had a very frank conversation with them, and they released us from our obligation. We were candid about our hope that the school would let us out of the contract, but made clear that we were prepared to honor our financial commitment if not. No silly excuses or claims.

Honesty is the best policy, folks. We signed an agreement, and were beholden to it. Simple as that. If you don't think you want your kid to be there, or are holding out for something else, don't sign the agreement. Be an adult and a model for your kids.

I have never personally had to do it, but this is the only way I have heard people experience it... this thread is making me realize that apparently I only gravitate towards people who handle things like adults 😂

...Or you gravitate towards people that don't have better options.

Clearly they did have better options, and they were able to take those better options because they handled things like rational adults

Some times personal or financial conditions change, and that doesn't make you irrational.

[Anonymous]

Do people not understand what a contract is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand what a contract is?

Sure. Do business renegotiate contracts? All the time darling....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand what a contract is?

Sure. Do business renegotiate contracts? All the time darling....

Schools don’t, darling. They might release a family from their contract occasionally on a case-by-case basis, but they do not negotiate or renegotiate. The contract is what it is, if you don’t like the terms, you don’t send your kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand what a contract is?

Sure. Do business renegotiate contracts? All the time darling....

Schools don’t, darling. They might release a family from their contract occasionally on a case-by-case basis, but they do not negotiate or renegotiate. The contract is what it is, if you don’t like the terms, you don’t send your kid there.

Guess what? releasing a family from its contractual obligations would change the terms of the agreement, which is exactly what renegotiating a contract means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand what a contract is?

Sure. Do business renegotiate contracts? All the time darling....

Schools don’t, darling. They might release a family from their contract occasionally on a case-by-case basis, but they do not negotiate or renegotiate. The contract is what it is, if you don’t like the terms, you don’t send your kid there.

Guess what? releasing a family from its contractual obligations would change the terms of the agreement, which is exactly what renegotiating a contract means.

Yup!