Can A Runaway Attend School?

[Guest]

Hi there, I really need your help right now I'm 17 and currently attending at a high school I will soon turn 18 in Nov..and after my birthday I decided to run away with my boyfriend I've known him for years and his dad have already talk to me about living with them because they knew me for a long time. I wanted to run away because I get abuse at home my mom really hates me and I can't do anything without her being too strict. She took away everything from me. She only cares about my two younger siblings which also hates me. And my concern is, if I run away at 18 but still is enrolled at a school what would happen to my school? Can I attend a new high school too? Thank you.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hi there, I really need your help right now

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

We are sorry to hear about your situation at home. It must be tough to live in a place that makes you feel unappreciated and mistreated. You deserve to be treated fairly.
We appreciate you reaching out with this question however you might consider speaking with the schools administrators about any enrollment issues you might have.
You might start with the school you are planning to attend once you leave home about any requirements they might have in regards to transfer student’s particuriarly those having turned 18.

If you would like to speak more about your situation please give NRS a call at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800Runaway.org (Live Chat).

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

My friend and I are twelve years old and we want to run away but we are afraid we dont have anywhere to go we also are afraid of getting caught by our parents or an adult. But we still want to attend school, what should we do?

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us through our forum! We appreciate you taking the time to post on it and we hope our response will be helpful. If you or your friend ever wanted to talk more about what’s going on, we are always here to talk.

You and your friend’s safety is extremely important to us. Firstly, if you two decide that running away is the best option, we are here to help you do it safely. We have a database for runaway/youth shelters, we are more than happy to look for some in your area. You also mentioned being afraid of the consequences of running away. We are not legal experts, in most states, you cannot be arrested for running away. Since it’s considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, you wouldn't be arrested for running away. What would mostly happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home. If your parents/guardians think they know where you might be and tell the police, the police may go look for you in those locations.
Given that we are not legal experts at NRS, we offer a conference calling services. Youth call into our safeline, and we call out their non-emergency police station and we can also call out to parents.

Lastly, it sounds like you and your friend are worried about going/getting into school, if you two decide to runaway. There is a legal act called the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. That ensures educational rights and protections to youth who are homeless or have runaway. Youth are able to enroll in school without having a guardian present. If you’d like to know more about the act, you can contact the National Center for Homeless Education Helpline (800)308-2145.

We are always here to try to get a more exact answer to your questions and we are also here to talk more about your situation. We’re open 24/7, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Best, NRS

[Guest]

Im 14 and I live in Canada. Since you guys are an American based site Im not sure you can help me but I can't find any Canadian ones. I want to runaway and I pretty much have my shelter all figured out. Running away isn't illegal, right? Anyway, I can get a job pretty easily as the law in Alberta is 12-14 and up for certain ones. My problem is, once I leave I have no idea how I can finish school. Im currently homeschooled and I will finish this year but if I leave I won't be able to homeschool anymore. Is there any way I can get enrolled without having to get an adult involved? There will be an adult where I would stay but my parents are the main problem. Also, will I get into any trouble using a false name to enrol?

[ccsmod6]

Hi,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reach out to us tonight! It sounds like you may be going through a crisis that is making you consider leaving home which is unfortunate. Yo're right, we are an American-based site and because of that we really do not know much about Canadian laws and are unable to answer your questions about it. One number you can call that deals with Canadian runaway youth is 1 800 668 4663. There is also http://youthrunaway.ca/.

We wish you the best of luck with everything!

[Guest]

Hey! I need some help with running away. This isn't something I plan on doing very soon, but either this summer or the next. My parents are extremely manipulative and controlling and I feel more like a pawn than a person. They want me to live in an exact way and whenever I try and do anything, they manage to take it away or ruin it. I'm 14 and a freshman in high school, and my plan is to run away with my boyfriend, who is 17. I originally was going to wait until I was 16 to try and become emancipated, but I know that that's unlikely to happen, and I'm not sure how much longer I can handle my current situation. My biggest worry is what I'll do for school. Going to school is something that's still extremely important to me. I know that I'm legally still entitled to an education because of the McKinney-Vento Act, but do you just walk in to the school and be like 'Hey I wanna be enrolled here.", or what? And wouldn't they need your name? Which would get you caught? I just want to know as much as possible about the school situation, because I have everything else sorted out. Thank you so much.

[ccsmod5]

Hi, thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like you are going through a difficult situation, and we are here to see how we can help you out. You sound like a very smart and independent person.
You mentioned wanting to still be able to go to school and are worried about how you can do this as a runaway. First off, you are correct that the McKinney-Vento Act allows you to still pursue an education. However, this can look different for each individual situation. Unfortunately, we are not legal experts here, so we cannot say how this would play out in your situation. You can explore more about the Act here: https://nche.ed.gov/legis/mv.php.
We can connect you to someone who would be able to help answer exactly how you can enroll in school, and if you would be turned in as a runaway. If you want to contact us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), we can connect you to a legal representative in your area that can answer your questions.
Thank you again for contacting us. We wish you the best of luck.

[Guest]

I am running away so and I was wondering can the police check my phone calls to see if I’m with anyone I’ve called ? And if so how would I make sure they don’t check my phone records cause I can’t go back home

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thanks for writing in. It sounds like you’re in a tough spot and are wanting to leave. Unfortunately we aren’t legal experts, so we aren’t able to say whether or not the police are able to pull up your phone records. Your best bet might be to call out to your phone carrier and ask about their policies on that particular issue.
If you want to talk more specifically about what’s going on that’s making you want to leave, please know that we are here to listen and help you brainstorm your options 24/7. Our number is 1-800-786-2929. Best of luck to you and stay safe.

[Guest]

If I run away can I still go to school and talk to my friends or ex. How would I survive in the woods?

[ccsmod5]

Hello,
Thanks for reaching out! You have some valid questions and are going through some hard situations. Let’s see what information I have for you.
When a young person runs away from home, in most cases their parents or guardians will file a runaway report with the local police department. This is not a criminal offense, so it would not go on your record, it means that police would collect information and most likely go out, look for you, and try to bring you home. To answer your question, “collecting information” would be going to your school, talking to your friends or partners, and seeing places you go to often. These might be places or people you might want to avoid if you want to avoid going home, however, they will be a strong support for you as you go through a difficult transition. With this information, these are decisions you will need to make as you go forward.
The second question you asked was how you were going to survive in the woods. There are several places you can live away from home if that is not a place you feel safe or if you need a place to get away for a while. Depending on your situation, sometimes there is a relative like an aunt/uncle or a grandparent or a trusted adult that your parents and you feel comfortable with you living with for a while. If you want help talking to mom/dad or guardian about this option, give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we can help. Another option is to stay with a trusted, safe, friend or adult without your guardian’s knowledge, this is often done. To be fully informed, there is the potential for a misdemeanor for anyone over the age of 18 of being charged with something called “harboring a runaway” if police find you at their home when looking for you.
Some things to think about but the most important is that you are safe. If you have some safety concerns or want some specific resources or specifics around your situation, please do not hesitate to call or chat with us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or on our website.
Again, we’re really glad that you reached out to us. It takes a lot to ask for help and you are trying to figure out your options which is really good to see. We’re here to listen, here to help.

[Guest]

is ok if your parent report you as a runaway if they know where you are

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. We are not legal experts, but we can speak generally. Your parents have the right to attempt to file a runaway report for you whenever you leave without permission so they could file you as a runaway and let police know where you are or where you might be. Police might go to the address that your parents give them, and if they find you they would typically return you home. Police response can vary depending on your local departments protocols. One way to know what police would do in your area is to call the local non-emergency police station number and ask an officer hypothetical questions about your situation.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have more questions or would like to talk through your situation. We are confidential and here to help.

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Im 17 and i live in virgina me and my parents have huge issues im always getting verbally abused , i want to run away and live with my friend and go back to my old school my mom doesnt care if i leave will they let me back at my old school?

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We are very sorry to hear that you are being verbally abused. It sounds like you want to runaway from home and live with a friend. If you decide to runaway, your parents have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report, if the police find you they would return you home. Running away is not illegal but if you decide to stay with your friend without your parents permission, they could get charged with harboring a runaway. You could try asking your mom if she would allow you to move in with another family member or close friend. We cannot say for you if they will let you back at your old school if you leave. You could try contacting your state's board of education office, or speaking with your principal. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.


We hope this response was helpful!  We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum.  Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Hi I'm 17 and for awhile I've distanced myself from my family. Each member of my immediate family are selfish and lying individuals, my own father disowned me because I'm gay but my mom and grandma are the worst of them. My mom tends to play the victim alot and her husband has threatened my well-being more then once and I'm getting tired of this. I've thought of many scenarios on how to go about this and most of them end up leaving to me turning 18 and just leaving, but I want to go about this now. Why stay and keep dealing with this when it can be dealt with now ? I've thought about buying a plane ticket to another state one far away from mine. I'm just tired of not feeling happy here, it's a little depressing. I moved out and currently stay with great grandparents and they're on their last leg. My own grandma wouldn't take me in and I don't know what to do.

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

We thank you for reaching out and coming forward about problems you’re facing. We understand that it’s difficult to tell people you don’t know that you need help. We hope that our response to you helps.

It’s unfortunate that your immediate family is composed of selfish and lying individuals. We also are really sorry that your father disowned you because you’re gay. We want to let you know that we affirm all sexualities and we can connect you to gay-friendly resources if you need them. Given everything you’ve told us, it makes sense why you would want to leave your great-grandparents’ home. We’re sorry to hear you don’t know where you’ll go if you leave their home, however. We can help you locate emergency housing in your area that will provide you a safe place to stay, shower, and eat. We are unable to give local resources out to people who chat with us through our forums, so we suggest you call or email us, tell us your age, gender, and location, and we can search for a shelter for you.

We hope this response was helpful!** We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum.** Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: **https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Is your email located anywhere on sight ?

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. Our email is [email protected] , we can also be reached directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), or live chat.

[Guest]

hi , I'm 17 I'll be 18 in February . I got taken away from my mom and i recently ran away from the Foster home I was in .I don't want to go back to Foster Care although I do want to with and go to school is there any way that's possible???? Most people say no but I'm paying that there's a way .

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. From your bulletin to us here, we can see that you have very similar questions to a lot of our callers and you’re looking for some answers. We have attached a copy of the bulletin that is similar. Feel free to call us with follow-up questions. 1-800-786-2929

RE: Can A Runaway Attend School?

Hello,

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Switchboard during this difficult time. It sounds like you have already run away from home. Are you staying somewhere safe? How have you been surviving? A resource that you might want to check out would be http://center.serve.org/nche/m-v.php which is the McKinny Vinto Homeless Assistance Act that states that homeless youth are legally allowed to still attend school. Have you talked to someone at the school you would like to attend about your situation?

Do you think your parent/guardian has contacted the police and filed a runaway report? If they have, it basically means your name is entered into a national database stating that if found you are to be returned to your legal guardian. Although running away isn’t technically illegal, anyone that you would be staying with could possibly be charged with ‘harboring a runaway’. Have you looked into Justice For Children at http://justiceforchildren.org/ or call them at 1-800-733-0059, they may be able to advocate on your behalf if you left due to an abusive situation.

We are available for you 24/7 and are anonymous, confidential and toll-free at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) as well as our live chat at www.1800runaway.org from 4:30 pm- 11:30 pm CST. We would like to be able to talk to you if you have any further questions. We are here to listen, and here to help. Best of luck,

NRS

[Guest]

Hello I am a 15 year male who harboured a 14 year old runaway from her abusive mother. Is it possible that I could get in trouble. I am also living in Canada.

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. You totally don't deserve to be in an abusive home and we would love to help. Unfortunately we are not versed in the laws applicable to Canada because our services are specific to the U.S., so unfortunately we don't know what trouble you could get in in Canada.1-800-668-6868 is the number for Kids Help Phone in CA, which may be able to help you.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 and I live in Florida. I’ve been thinking about running away to my other side of the family since my current living conditions aren’t the best. My family that I currently live with make me feel like crap and call me a slut and that if I move back to my other side of the family that I will end up a prostitute. But I just wanted to if my family that I want to live with would get in trouble for helping me un away to them. I love them dearly and I would feel horrible if I got them into jail.

[ccsmod11]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out! That’s a really tough situation – absolutely nobody deserves to live with people who make you feel like that. It’s also really admirable that you’re looking out for the well-being of the family you would stay with, that’s very considerate.

Since you’re 15, you are legally a minor. If you left without the permission of your current family, they would be allowed to file a runaway report. If they did that, the family you decided to stay with could technically get in trouble for harboring a runaway. However, a lot of times people don’t get in trouble for that – it just depends on what your current guardians, and the police, choose to do.

You are also allowed to stay with the other side of your family if you can get your current guardians’ permission. It sounds like they speak really negatively about that plan, but if they were to agree with it you wouldn’t have to worry about the other family getting in trouble. Do you think there’s a scenario where you get to live with the other side of the family and your current guardians are still ok with the situation?

If you’d like to talk over your situation more, you are welcome to post again, or to get in touch with us over the phone (1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929) or via the chat option on our website (1800runaway.org). We’re 100% confidential and would be happy to talk about anything related to your situation. Good luck and we look forward to hearing from you again!

-NRS

[Guest]

I am currently 13 turning 14 and me and my friend are planning on running away soon. We already planned everything out except for one thing. School. Me and my friend have been abused all our life and we've both gone through some heavy family stuff too, but I don't want to throw away the chance I have at succeeding because I decide to run away. Now I know what you're thinking, well just wait till you graduate... But I can't. I can't live hear anymore, so if you have any idea of how we could still go to school, or even an online school, than please reply

[ccsmod0]

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to write to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you have a question that a lot of our other users have, about being able to leave home but still attend school. We have attached a link to the thread.

https://bulletinboards.1800runaway.org/forum/categories/legal-issues/1400-can-a-runaway-attend-school

In addition to being available online, we have a 24/7 hotline and are always here to provide additional support and resources. It sounds like you have a lot to think through and we are here to help you process it. Please do not hesitate to call. 1800-786-2929
Good luck,
NRS