Navigating Homeschooling and Co-Parenting in Illinois

 Posted on August 21, 2024 in Child Custody / Parental Responsibilities

While sending children to school for their education is still what most parents in America do, homeschooling is quickly becoming a more popular alternative. As awareness of children’s unique abilities spreads, some families decide that a tailor-made learning environment is the best place for their children. However, parents who share custody need to be on the same page about this decision. If you are convinced that homeschooling is what your child needs but your ex-spouse disagrees, speak with a seasoned Chicago, IL parental responsibilities attorney who can help you reach an agreement.

What Are Parental Responsibilities in Illinois?

In Illinois, what people commonly refer to as child custody is divided into two main categories:

• Parenting time: Otherwise known as visitation, this is the time that each parent spends with their child. Parenting time can be decided through mediation or by the court. During parenting time, the parent is responsible for the child’s well-being.
• Parental responsibilities: Otherwise known as legal custody, this refers to a parent’s ability and obligation to make important decisions on their child’s behalf, often falling under one of three categories: medical care, religious upbringing, and education.

What Happens If We Cannot Agree about Homeschooling?

It is not unusual for unmarried parents to share parental responsibilities, even if they are not divided equally. If you and your ex both get to make decisions about your child’s education but he disagrees with you about homeschooling, there are a few options for how you might deal with this:

• Reach a compromise on your own: Maybe you can find a solution that is not exactly what either of you wants but acceptable to both. For example, if your concern is about class size and your ex feels that the social aspect of going to school is important, you might find a charter school with small classes that you both find acceptable. This is only an option if you and your ex can communicate productively and are willing to work together to find creative solutions.
• Go to mediation: A neutral third party might help you and your ex think outside the box to find a solution you both can agree to by finding out the underlying issues. If it turns out your ex worries about your child falling behind academically, the mediator might guide you toward a solution whereby you would send a periodic report of your curriculum and your child’s progress. Sometimes having a trustworthy outside observer listen to your concerns can help you have a new perspective and think creatively. 
• Settle the matter in court: If you cannot resolve this on your own and mediation does not help, it might need to be decided by the court. Like all decisions affecting a child, the main focus will be on whatever is in the child’s best interest. Whatever the court decides will be legally binding and you would need to go through an appeal process if you want to overturn the decision. That is why, as difficult as it might be, it is almost always best to try resolving disagreements out of court.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Cook County, IL Child Custody Attorney

When you and your child’s other parent disagree about what is best for your child, it can be a very distressing experience. Whether you can resolve this disagreement on your own, with the help of mediation, or through the court, a knowledgeable Chicago, IL divorce lawyer can offer you useful information and guidance to reach a positive outcome. Call The Law Office of George J. Skuros at 312-884-1222 to schedule a free consultation.