How Should a Divorce Parenting Plan Address Children's Education?

 Posted on August 02, 2019 in Divorce

Divorce brings changes to all members of an immediate family. Instead of giving custody to one parent over the other, Illinois allocates parental responsibility and parenting time through a parenting plan, which is a court order that maps out how a child will be taken care of after divorce. This schedule includes details such as when a child stays with each parent. The parenting plan will also specify how decisions are made for education, religion, and medical care are covered, as well as who has the authority to make these decisions. Things like school and extracurricular activities will be taken into consideration when creating this plan, and it is best if co-parents can communicate with each other about expectations during the school year. 

School Issues to Consider  

When creating a parenting plan, it is best to avoid disrupting the child’s life as much as possible. There are a couple of things to keep in mind regarding education:

• Expenses: There are many expenses that may be involved in a child's schooling. They may need new clothes, updated uniforms, school supplies, and money for lunch. How these expenses are allocated between parents should be covered in the parenting plan—including any unexpected costs, such as fees for field trips or school events. Child support is meant to cover the costs of necessary expenses—shelter, food, clothing. Any additional costs related to education will be on top of the parents' child support obligations. 
• School Work: After a divorce, each parent may have their own individual parenting styles. While one parent might have kept track of school work, helped with projects, and made sure the child was on track during the marriage, both parents may now need to play this type of role. It is important to set expectations in the parenting plan for how these responsibilities will be handled going forward. Divorce is hard on any child, and it takes teamwork to ensure that he or she does not fall behind in school. 

Contact an Arlington Heights Divorce Lawyer

A parenting plan will be your family’s guide after a divorce, and it is especially important during the child’s school year. If your original plan is no longer meeting your family’s needs as your child progresses in school, or if your ex-spouse is not cooperating and meeting the requirements of your parenting plan, the experienced law firm of A. Traub & Associates can help. Contact a compassionate Barrington parenting plan attorney to discuss your options. We can guide you in drafting a plan that is in your child's best interests. Call 630-426-0196 today to schedule an initial consultation.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherlocus/2018/08/26/how-to-plan-ahead-for-a-successful-school-year-after-divorce/#74a86c3a5ec4

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8300000&SeqEnd=10000000