With more and more Minnesota schools offering virtual instruction, parents are faced with the choice of sending their kids to school or keeping them at home. Deciding which learning method is best for a child is not easy, either. Divorced parents might face an even bigger struggle when trying to choose which learning method to go with. How parents share child custody may influence who gets to decide.
A parent with primary physical custody of a child will likely have the final say about whether a child will physically attend school or go virtually. This is true even if parents share joint custody. However, the parent with physical custody must still consult with the other parent as he or she shares equal participation in educational decisions. This does not mean that the primary caretaker has to do as the other parent wishes.
Parents who share joint custody but who disagree on school choice will require a significant amount of cooperation — especially if they want to stay out of court. It can be hard to come to an agreement when both parents believe they know what is in a child’s best interests, though. One mistake some parents make in this situation is to ask their child for input. While it might feel sensible to get his or her input, involving a child in custody matters is almost never a good idea.
Ensuring that a child receives a good education is important to most parents in Minnesota. When asked to make a decision about how a child will receive his or her instruction, divorced parents may have a hard time coming to an agreement. But when a parent is certain that a specific choice is in his or her child’s best interests and an ex disagrees, it may be helpful to reach out to an experienced attorney for guidance on this and other complicated child custody matters.
