Can A Runaway Attend School?

[Guest]

Hi,
I'm 11 years old and I ran away from home about 3 weeks ago. I'm living far from my former state, but I want to attend school. Please do not persuade me to go home. Is it possible to go to school if you're a runaway? I don't really have someone to sign for my parent/guardian. Also, if I'm caught, are there any options that would allow me to remain in my current location? I really like the area I'm in currently and prefer to not go into foster care…

Thank you,
Anonymous Girl

Good luck I hope you find somewhere nice to live and have a happy life, I am wanting to also because my mom is forcing me to leave home and live in tennTenne with her but I don't want to what advise do you have for me?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through a hard time right now. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you decided to reach out to us for help.
It sounds like you are in a difficult situation and your mom is planning to move to a new place. Talking and explaining how you fell to your mom can be helpful. Family counseling can be helpful in many situations. You can contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for any counseling resources. Moving to a new town can be hard in many situations, however you could try to keep in touch with your current friends over phone or social media. While it can be challenging to adapt to a new town and make new friends that is something which can happen over time.
While we are not legal experts, just speaking generally if you are to run away before the age of 18 and your mom is to file a police report the police can bring you back home and whoever you are staying with could get in trouble with the law. Running away from home can also be challenging in other ways. You may have to figure out where you can stay and how you can pay for food and other living expenses.
If it might be an option for you, you could call us at our 24 hour confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) or live chat with us, we would be happy to listen to you, explore your options and provide any resources.

You are acting strong in this hard situation by reaching out for help. We wish you the best and hope to hear from you soon.
Best
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 16 about to be 17 in December I ran away but this is my 4th time and I have made my decision clear that I do not wish to go back with my father.. i went to CPS and the police but they did not help me.. since school is around I was wondering how do I fill out the paperwork when I need my father's signature? My case has closed but I'm still a run away what is the best thing to do since I care about my education and my future life goals???? Please help!!!

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us in this difficult time. For questions about how to enroll in school as a runaway, you may want to call the National Center for Homeless Education Helpline: (1-800-308-2145). They are more informed about the McKinney-Vento Act, which allows runaway youth to attend high school without proof of guardianship.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

hi ! im hoping someone can reply to me since i've been overthinking about this for a long time :/ i was taken away from my parents at age 11 for a misunderstanding so i was a foster for a while until i got the chance to go back home and decided to stay with my grandma ( dad's mom ) and my aunt took my little sister . i stayed with my grandma because i didn't wanna change schools since i have a hard time making friends and because i got along with her also unlike my aunt , then time passed and my cousins started telling my grandma fake stuff about me that i have never done and so my gma told my dad ( my dad was in jail at the time ) and my older cousin that helped my grandma around abused and my grandma would never defend me since she would also mistreat me , i would stay over at my moms on the weekends and my grandma took that away from me for no reason and i never saw my mom for a while anymore . the day before i ran away my grandma told my older cousin that apparently i was talking bad about him and i never did so he got mad and busted down my door and i didn't have a door knob because they took it off because i cant have privacy , then the next day i ran away with my mom and she met me at the border from mexico since it's our ' hometown ' i guess you can say , so yeah. i left in dec 2015 :/ i was in 7th grade at the time and i missed 8th and 9th and i might miss 10th also im not sure about that yet since my dad is gonna help me soon since he just got out a couple of months ago . i am pretty smart i just suck at math, i wanted to know what will happen if i go back to school , will they send me back to 7th ? my middle school would still pass the kids that didn't pass their staar & im just scared because my parents want me to graduate and so do i but with my classmates i was around with my entire life . it makes me sad because my cousins caused all this drama and now im going thru this when none of this is my fault , what will happen when i go back to school ? im supposed to enter 10th this year

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and share what is going on. Its sounds like you are a strong person and have been through Unfortunately, each school set their owns standards for each grade level and we don’t have a lot of information about each education system, but in general, they mostly likely will have you take placement test to see where you fall. It sounds like you are in a more supportive environment now and hope that no matter what grade you can enter, that you will be supported through it and will make it through.

We are here for you and will support you in anyway that we can. Please feel free to call into us directly as we can talk further about your situation and find resources that are best for you in your area. Stay strong and you are not alone in this! Our hotline ( 1-800-RUNAWAY) and chat are open 24/7.

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 support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey.

-NRS

Tell us what you think about your experience!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

i am 17 about to turn 18 in 8 months. i have a 4 month old son and i really don’t want to stay with my mom anymore. my boyfriend works and has a safe place for us. he’s been trying to send me money for months but my mom won’t take me to get an id and make a bank account. i live in the state of virginia and i know i have to be 18 in order to leave but it’s too many problems. i can’t make any decisions for my son because of my mom. at birth i couldn’t even name him how i wanted to because of her and now she wants custody of him. i stopped going to public schools and i’m supposedly out of school systems my mom said i was going to be homeschooled but 2 months already passed and nothing. my mom and stepdad said they don’t care if i leave and that they won’t hold me back but won’t have a written consent. they said they would only call the police because they didn’t want to get in trouble with the school when i was attending a public school. now that i’m out of the school system and not being homeschooled can they still get me in trouble with the police if i leave and don’t finish school? do i not have any rights to my son because i live with her? can she really take custody of my son and take him away from me? and if you don’t know the answers can you please help me find answers by someone else or another website please. thank you so much

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a really tough situation and are unsure of where to turn, but we want you to know that you deserve to feel safe and happy wherever you are living and do what is best for yourself and your education. For your questions about school and enrollment and your rights within your situation, you can reach out to the National Center for Homeless Education at 1-800-308-2145. Even if you're not homeless, they might have the answers for what you need.

Generally speaking, if you leave while still 17, your parents could file a runaway report and you could be returned home. There could also be legal consequences for your boyfriend or whomever you stay with for what is called harboring a minor. One thing you can do is reach out to your local police to inquire how they handle runaway reports for 17 year olds. Some cities and departments treat them differently because a 17 year old is so close to becoming a legal adult. The way to get the most accurate information would be to call your local police non-emergency number and anonymously inquire about their practices.

We are not legal experts, and it would depend on a lot of aspects of your situation about the rights you have over your son. If you give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 we could try to look up youth legal aid for you to ask those questions or talk more through your situation to identify who you could turn to or answer more of your concerns. Don't hesitate to give us a call. We're here 24/7 to listen and to support.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

i am 12 yrs old i want to run away i have thought up an okay plan, but im still unsure. i kind off feel slightly depressed and powerless like if i stay i wont be able to handle. my parents are nice but i dont think i can tell them i kind of feel they support me but control certain aspects of me and i still love them but i wanted an opinion on what to do.

[ccsmod1]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. We're sorry to hear about how you have been feeling and want you to know that you deserve to feel safe and respected in your home. It can be difficult to have a conversation with your parents about your feelings if you're unsure how they will react. Sometimes it can be helpful to have another adult around when you’re trying to talk to them so that they can stand up for you and try to keep the conversation calm and fair. That person could be a guidance counselor, other family member, or any other adult you trust. Here at NRS, we also offer a conference call service and can help you have that conversation. Our number is 1-800-786-2929. You can call us 24/7.

We are not legal experts, but we can tell you that because you are a minor, if you leave and your parents file a runaway report, you could be returned home. There could also be legal consequences for whomever you stay with for what is called harboring a runaway. You also may have trouble finding youth shelters that don't require parental consent for minors. If you want a liner to help you walk through other options like us mediating that conference call between you and your parents or thinking through possible adults that you could turn to or could advocate for you, don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi, my name is Mari and I'm 13. So, I'm already planning on running away, but I know where I want to go. Where one of my best friends is in a different state. If I successfully get there, will her mom be able to enroll me in school? I don't plan on coming back, and I really want to finish school and even get into college. Though a bus ride from here to her house is only about two hours.

[ccsmod3]

Hello –

Thank you for contacting us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes great courage to reach out. I’m sorry to hear that life at home has led you to want to run away, that must be a difficult situation to deal with.

Having a space place to stay to ensure that you are safe is very important. Running away is not illegal but since you are a minor, your guardians have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report, if the police find you they would return you home unless you express to them that you live in a unsafe environment. If you left home and decided to stay with a friend, they could get in trouble for harboring a runaway. However, due to the McKinney Vento Act you also have the right to go to school regardless of your living situation. To learn more about the process of running away and being able to enroll in school without your legal guardian’s permission, you can also call the National Center of Homeless Education Hotline at 1-800-308-2145.

If you would like to discuss the reasons as to why you want to runaway or you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.

We hope the information provided helps. Remember we are available 24/7 and can be toll-free reached at the number listed above. We are confidential, anonymous, and non-direct.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Guest]

I was kicked out my house and my parents said not to come back until i apologized but i didn't start anything and they threatened to send me to a detention center or to come home but that's stressful I'm confused I'm 17 and a senior and I'm just trying to graduate and go in the military

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve been going through such a tough time, but we are here to support you and help you in any way we can. It sounds like you’ve shown a lot of strength and that you have a lot of great goals for yourself.

Just so you’re aware, your parents have a legal obligation to take care of you until you are 18. If they refuse to let you return home, you could consider reporting that. You could consider calling Child Help at 1-800-422-4453 if you wanted more information.

If you haven’t already, you could consider reaching out to a trusted adult, relative, worker/teacher/counselor at your school for help and support. You could also consider talking to your parents about how you’ve been feeling or having someone else help you talk with them. Just so you’re aware, we have a conference calling service here where we could help mediate a conversation between you and your parents.

There are also many resources that could help you find a safe place if you’re in need, or help you with anything else you may need. If you want to talk more about what’s been going on, or if you would like more information about resources, you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us online.

Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by working through these challenges and reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us or chat with us online. We’re always here to listen and here to help.

[Guest]

I'm 16 and I'm a senior in high school, the school actually gives me tutoring because I wasn't cleared by a therapist to return to school bc I was suicidal. My parents don't care about me, and emotionally abuse me. I don't want to live with them anymore, and I have other options. I want to run away, but I'm worried if I get brought back they'll force me legally to stay with my parents and think I'm just an ungrateful whiner. But in my eyes, leaving is justified. Would this affect my siblings'? Would running away help me get emancipated?

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for reaching out, and we know how hard this can be. It sounds like things must be pretty tough if you’re thinking about running away.
You mentioned being suicidal. If you’re ever feeling like that again and need some immediate help, please call 911 and they will send someone to help you. You can also always call us as we’re here 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 or the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
In terms of running away, you mentioned you have options, but we hope you’ve thought through how you would survive financially and be safe. The police do have the right to have you returned home if you are reported by your family as a runaway. You mention abuse as well, and you have a right to report that and we can help you with that as well if you call us. The Child Abuse Hotline # is 1-800-422-4453 if you want to call yourself as well. No one should be abused at any time, for any reason.
Another option for you might be to talk more with your school about how you’re feeling or more with your parents as well. We have a conference calling service also if you think that might work and we can talk to you and your parents. If you have friend’s parents, that might be an option too, or other family. In terms of your siblings, it’s hard to say how they would be affected without knowing more about the situation.
While we aren’t legal experts, it’s not likely that running away will help you get emancipated. In terms of education as a runaway, you could also look at the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/legislation.html for more information on your rights to education.
Hopefully we’ve provided some helpful information, and don’t hesitate to call us at any time at 1-800-786-2929 if we can help in any other way. Best of Luck!

[Guest]

Hi Im 15 about to be 16 in a couple of weeks and i want to run away. I hate living here with my dad and i been wanting to move with my mom but he wont allow me so now i decided to runaway , i know where i want to go how im am going to do it but the only thing im worried about is school. Can i get register into school without my parents knowing? Is there a way i can get a whole new birth certifcate and have a new life with my parents being able to find me? I want to leave forever without getting caught but i dont know how to do get a new birth certifcate, or ssn, and i can just change my name because i know they will notify my parents that my name was changed is there any way to around that?

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS we understand that you are going through a rough time and it can be hard to find help. Our hope is to provide you with resources that will help you make the best decision for yourself. From what we gather about your situation it seems like you are looking to runaway and register for things like school and getting legal documentation. Unfortunately without parents signature you cannot get most legal documents. As far as the runaway laws go while we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 16 and will be turning 17 in 4 months. I have a job and money and I attend high school. My parent doesn't want me to be here anymore, so they want to send me back to my other parents. neither parents are abusive, but I REALLY don't want to go back to my other parent's home, because I don't have the same opprotunities there that I have here. If I run away, I still want to attend high school. I have a bike, and a bus card, so travelling won't be rough. Minimum wage is 12.00, if that's any good to live off of. I have a scholarship that will allow me to attend college for free, as long as I maintain a 2.0 gpa or higher, and as long as I finish high school in state, and go to college in state. I'm in Washington.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

I'm in a bad place at the moment.
I just started at my new school and im super stressed out.
I need to leave asap but i'll be living on the streets.
i go to a private girls school so can they kick me out once i am found?
and can my parents send me to a bootcamp if im found?

[ccsmod9]

If you have left from a private school and are on the streets the school has a duty to inform the police. This means that you have probably been marked as a runaway. From here it means if you are caught or found they will probably take you back home to your parents. Again this means you would say suspension probably from school but other than that not much else than being in trouble with your parents. If anyone sends you to a bootcamp it can be your parents. They have custody and would be able to do something like that yes.
Best Wishes-NRS

[Guest]

Do I need a high school transcript if I run away? And do u know airlines that will allow me to travel without parental consent.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to listen and here to help. If you are trying to enroll in school you may need a transcript from your previous school. To find the best answer to that question you may want to contact your school and find out if they would give you a copy of your transcript. Keep in mind you may need parental consent to change schools, but it may be different in some school districts.
Also you asked what airlines would let you travel without parental permission. Unfortunately most if not all airlines will not let someone who is under 18 travel alone or without parental permission. Running away is not your only option, we can explore your many options.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. Please give us a call if you would like to explore more options or have any more questions.
We wish you the best of luck in your situation.
NRS

[Guest]

my parents just don't listen I'm planning on running away tonight I can't stand being in this house anymore im 12 by the way. I looked up everything and nothing would help me I live in New York please help me I just want to die if I don't get out of this house I
will kill my self!

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you decided to reach out for help.
It sounds like you are going through a lot of stress right now and are considering killing your self. Your life is worth living and if you are at risk of hurting yourself please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255). You are not alone and we are here to support you through this hard time. Running away from home can be hard and it can be helpful to think about where you might stay and how you might pay for food, rent and other living expenses. Talking to other family members friends or school counselors can be of help. If you are being hurt in anyway you can call the Administration of Child Services at 1-877-KIDSNYC (543-7692) or Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453.

We are here to listen to you, explore your options and provide resources and you can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) or live chat with us https://www.1800runaway.org/ and click chat.
You are acting strong by reaching out for help. Your life has a purpose and it is worth living. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best
NRS