Can a parent of a homeschooled teenager deny the child of graduating.?

Question

My 17 year old cousin has been homeschooled all her life. She is having difficulties with her parents (like most typical teenagers). She needs to complete her senior year studies to graduate high school. She now lives with her grandmother because her mother kicked her out. Her mother will not order any of the books she needs to complete her education unless she comes back. (Yes, I know, her mother is bipolar I think and is always changing her mind). My cousin does not want a GED and going to a regular high school now would take a long time and she fears she may not do well because she's never done it before. Can her mother really deny her daughter that last bit of her education. She wants to start college so badly and just go on with her life.

Answer 1

yea

Answer 2

She should have her grandmother seek guardianship, then her grandmother can set up things so your cousin can graduate.

Answer 3

I wouldn't think a parent would be allowed to s***w with the child's education like that. It is not in their best interest. If the parent kicked the child out why hasn't someone went to the courts and asked for custody of the child. The parent's would have to pay for child support. Past and present. As far as her education goes talk to the board of education, they may have some ideas. If you want a quick fix, have the teenager emancipate herself from her parents. Denying her a future is wrong especially for a mother even if she is mentally unstable.

Answer 4

I think the answer is obvious.  Yes she can.  The thing you need to realize is that your 17 year old cousin has more options than just being held back by her mother.  She needs to talk seriously with a counselor about what those other options are.  She can apply for public assistance to pay for books and supplies.  She can look into becoming legally emancipated from her mother due to neglect or abuse.  She can get a part-time job to help out with the expenses.  It sounds like she already has some moral support from her grandmother as well as you.  That's definitely a step in the right direction.

Answer 5

No who would do that anyway that is like cruelty to your child.

Answer 6

Depending on her state's laws, her grandmother (or one of your parents) can report her mother to the proper authorities who are in charge of HS'ing.

She could start college next semester if she's taken her ACT or SAT exam.  She could start a community college if she hasn't had one of those.  They are not very expensive.

Perhaps her grandmother can file to be her legal guardian.  Or, as some others have said, she can get emancipated.

Answer 7

your cousin can emancipate herself from her parents but that takes a lot of work.  might be worth it if she wants to go to college and they demand her parents financial info for financial aid.

frankly, i would get my GED and then if necessary go to a "13th" year of school.  boarding schools usually offer this for highschool seniors- i'm not sure about public schools.  

unfortunately she can't enroll herself in a public school.  she's best off getting her GED and going to comm college or a university if she can

Answer 8

It sounds like your "cousin" is focused more on MAKING her mother pay rather than moving on and graduation. She should get a GED and not get entangled into any legal battles. It sounds a little contradicting and unconvincing that she was kicked out but her mother would pay if she comes back. If she kicked her out she wouldn't want her back, right? Sounds to me like a teenager leaving home after an argument and looking to get her way. Does she expect CASH from the mother? Obviously there ARE options and one should be less picky in this position.