16 Running away how can i enroll myself in school

[Guest]

I'm 16 and live with my step family rn but something happened and now I have to leave they don't want me here anymore. My dad isn't letting me stay with him & I don't want to live with my mom because she's not a good person.i have a friend who's mom willing to take me in but doesn't have any legal papers on me but I was wondering can I enroll myself into school I really don't wanna go back to my mom but I'm not emancipated.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS. It seems like things have become very complicated and you are hoping to stay with a friend’s family that you find more supportive and healthy compared to living with your mom. It probably feels isolating not having a secure place to go, or at least that where you will be living is up in the air right now. The good news seems to be that you have a family willing to be supportive of you even if it might be complicated actually follow through with that plan.
Generally, as long as you have parent or guardian permission to be in a particular home then that is all you need. So emancipation might not be strictly necessary. The difficulty is that whomever is your legal guardian could change their mind and ask for you to return “home” with whatever is considered reasonable notice. In short you can likely stay with your friend and their family, but only with permission.
You mentioned that your step-family is making you feel like you aren’t allowed or wanted there. You don’t deserve to suddenly have the rug taken out from under you like that by them over one bad act. Family is meant to support, and if they are your legal guardians they actually would be considered negligent to kick you out without providing you a safe place to go.
In regards to school you can enroll at any time without a parent, and without any paperwork as well. This is through the McKinney-Vento act and your school district is legally required to have a homeless liaison who can help you to enroll and even get free lunches. Eventually they might need to talk with a parent or guardian though, but initial enrollment should be possible. Even just the fact that you could be kicked out now might even qualify you on its own for services since housing insecure also counts.
Hopefully this information has been helpful and gives you a direction to go. If you have more questions please feel free to reach out directly through our chatline at https://www.1800runaway.org/ or by phone at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY).
Stay Safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Thank you for responding! My friend and I had discussed in the past what we can do and I plan on leaving in December because I work and wanna save as much as possible before leaving. I only have a year and a half until I turn 18. Also I had went to the same school as my friend during freshman yr, I'm in 11th now and I wanna go back to the same school again. Will that trigger something in the records or will me enrolling again in the same school as a homeless youth make them contact my mom because I'm afraid of that happening.

[ccsmod15]

It takes a lot of courage to reach out so thank you for taking that first step with us. We are by no means legal experts. It is great that you have been putting together a plan and saving money. A great first place to reach out to is National Center for Homeless Education at 1 (800) 308-2145 they can put you in contact with the state coordinators for your state and they can give a little bit more details on the process. It is possible that someone might try and contact your mom. It could be worth contacting a counselor at your current school and getting their opinions on what next steps should be. Remember you are not alone, and you can contact us as well about next steps or if you just want to talk about what's going on right now in your life we are 24/7 and always happy to listen our phone number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) and we do have a live chat option as well.
Stay strong and stay safe.
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I used to live in California. My mom moved all of us to Minnesota after my dad passed away. I want to run away back to California and take my siblings with me but I cant because there's too much of us (. I'm scared because her boyfriend has said that hes going to sell us and she agreed. She doesn't really feed us and her bf smokes crack. I'm scared to report this to anyone because they might not take me seriously and I'm scared of splitting my siblings up. My older sisters said they're willing to take care of us but ik there's too many of us. If I run away to them will they get into trouble?? I don't know what to do but I also don't want to leave them alone. I can't find a job because I'm too young and I overheard that my mom is going to put us in homeschool soon. I just don't know where to turn to.

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

You mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. Having crack in the house and them considering to put you into a trafficking situation is likely grounds for an investigation.
If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain services). They generally try to keep siblings of similar ages together and if your older sisters would likely be first on the list of people to place you with. They would also get help in supporting you and your other siblings from the state to help take care of you.

If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering.

Please be safe and reach out soon by phone or chat so that we may help.
Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

im 15 and when i turn 16 i plan on going to seattle by myself without parental consent, idk how i can find a place to stay and attend school so id like for u to reply to this with ways how i can without emancipation and stuff. I dont wanna call fyi

[ccsmod16]

Hi, thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. We don't have the answers to your questions. We would have to talk this over with you. All youth shelters would require parental consent, and as a minor you are prevented by law from getting your own place.
For emancipation, you would have to prove to a judge that you have a job that enables you to fully support yourself; emancipation is the only way to be granted the right to act as an adult before you reach the age of majority.
We hope that you will chat us through this website so we can have a conoversation with you.
We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 13 how can I in roll myself into school

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
thanks for reaching out. If you are a homeless student, you can call the National Center for Homeless Education Helpline at 1-800-308-2145 and they will help you to find out if you qualify.
If you have a different circumstance, please call us at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us through this website to discuss your situation.
We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I’m currently 16 and currently homeschooled with my siblings. Due to my neurodevelopmental disorder and other reasons, my parents decided to homeschool me when I was in fifth grade, and then my siblings two years later, I hate my parents for this and after a argument I recently had with my mom, I decided that I was going to put myself in public school, because my mom wants me to “catch up” before they put me in school because she didn’t do anything to teach me well, and there probably going to put me in a religious school instead of a public school.

My questions are, is there a way I can do it without my parents consent while I’m still living with them, or will I have to runaway to be considered a homeless unaccompanied youth and have them do it, because I’ll do anything to get back to school.

[ccsmod3]

We are glad you reached out to us for help. It is clear you have a specific goal and outcome for your schooling. Unfortunately, at 16 you don’t have the final say in that decision and your parents will get to make it.

It is understandable that you are looking for options to have some control over what is obviously a very important decision for you. Your best option for an easy outcome is to get your parents consent to public school. We have some resources that might be able to help you get your parents to agree to this and help them realize that there is a real risk of you leaving to get what you want for school. Also, we can conference call with you and your parents and help you talk through this with them to advocate for what you want.

If you do decide to run away, you have the right to enroll in a public school through the McKinney/ Vento Act that is a Federal Law and it applies in every state. There are resources to help you enroll in school even though you are a reported runaway (or locked out). These resources are available by state and you can start that process by calling the National Center for Homeless Education Helpline at (800) 308 2145. You can also find your local resource on the following website:

https://schoolhouseconnection.org/homeless-liaisons-directory/

To talk more about help getting your parents to consent to public school of if you have any trouble getting the enrollment process started with the National Center for Homeless Education or your local state resource please reach out to us through our website for a chat or through our crisis hotline at 1 (800) RUNAWAY. Both are available 24/7 and both are completely confidential.


We hope to hear from you soon.


NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15. I live in the state of Iowa. I plan on running away from home tomorrow. I'm going to live with my boyfriends family. My parents are very verbally abusive and I don't want to be at home with them anymore. I would like to finish high school without them. They have continued to say they don't care if i leave. What should I do?

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like your parents are verbally abusive and you are planning on going to stay with your boyfriend’s mom. We are glad to hear that you have a safe place you are able to go. There is another hotline, National Homeless Education hotline: 1-800-308-2145, that might be able to guide you more on how to continue to be enrolled in school. We are also here to support as best as we can, and you can contact our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We are here 24/7.
Best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 and ill be 16 on June 7 i have all my documents that i need to be enrolled in school and i have money and a place to live i have good parents i just don’t want to stay there what do I need to do to enroll myself in school and get from under their control i still want them in my life but i need this space i am fully prepared to live on my own they will not sign off on it though forcing me to stay my grandma doesn’t stay to far maybe about 30 miles and would love to have me stay with her how would I be able to get out of their house and move in will still getting and education my stepbrother is crazy but it is excused due to the fact he has epilepsy he has sexually assaulted me and my little sister when we were younger and he has tried to kill us several times over the almost 8 years we have known them please i need help what can i do

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are wanting to live somewhere else other than your parents considering previous abuse you have experienced. That is wrong that your stepbrother sexually abused you and your sister and really frustrating that parents never seemed to do anything about it. That also sounds really scary that he has been threatening to kill you, this is never okay. It sounds like your grandma would welcome you into her home, which is always helpful to have a safe place to stay when considering leaving. It sounds like right now your focus is on how you would continue school. National Homeless Education hotline: 1-800-308-2145, that might be able to help you figure out what that process looks like. It can also be an option for grandma to try and get guardianship over you and then she can help with the school side of things. If you are wanting to talk about this more or some other options, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hey, I'm 16 and there is a lot going on. My parents took me out of public school because they don't want me to see my girlfriend much at all, and because they think that the school supports masking or something. But they put me in "homeschool" and now my intelligence is degrading and they are REFUSING to bring me back to public school. I'm a sophomore about to be a junior and I'm scared this will affect my career. Is there anything I can do to get into public school myself, or be emancipated in some way? I'll be getting a job in the summer and I am getting closer to getting my license. My girlfriend's family is supportive of me and they are trying to help me but I'm scared that if I move out and into their home somehow they will report a kidnapping or call CPS. My "homeschooling" consists of khan academy, constant arguments and distractions making schoolwork impossible, and not many actual good lessons or assignments. I haven't had a single unit test and my practice for state tests has been very poor. I'm terrified for my future.

[ccsmod7]

Hi,

First and foremost thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. NRS is sorry to hear that you're  having an unfortunate experience at home and its' impact on your education. You took a brave step to reach out to NRS because you express concern about your education and your future; and NRS applaud you for that. Because, NRS is not educational experts, there isn't a guarantee transferred back into public school without your parents consent. It's great that you have the support of your girlfriend and her parents. While we are not legal experts here at NRS, we do have a general understanding of runaway laws as they can pertain to minors (generally young people under the age of 1. If a young person who is considered a minor by their state leaves home without their parent/guardian's permission, their parent/guardian has the option to file a runaway report with local police and there is a risk of anyone caught harboring (housing) a runaway to face charges. It can also be helpful to note that while running away is not a status offense, in most cases police with try to reunite the young person with their legal parent/guardian. It may be helpful to consider what it might look like to have a meeting with your parents (and perhaps as well as your girlfriend's parents) so you can express the how concern and frustrated you are with your education and future career.

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 contact our 24/7 crisis support line either by phone or chat.

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. 

NRS hope to hear from you soon. 

Be safe,  
NRS

[Guest]

i am 15 and i might be pregnant. ,y mother has made it very clear that if i am i will no longer be aloud to live with her. my bf is 16 and my 16th birthday is in abt 5 months. would my bf get in a lot of trouble if my mom tells the cops? would i be able to enroll myself in school? i like in kansas and the laws are kind of strict here. but i need advise.

[ccsmod3]

Hi thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you have just learned that you might be pregnant and your mom would no longer allow you to live with her. That would be considered neglect and an option would be to report that to Child Protective Services if she were to kick you out. If you were to stay with your bf without your mom’s permission, there is a chance that he could get in trouble for what’s called harboring a runaway. For trying to enroll in school, there is an agency called national Center for Homeless Education: 800-308-2145. If you have any other questions or would like to talk more about what is going on and some possible options, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 16 years I ran away because I get abused the night I ran my dad had a knife to my face.I told the police but they talked to everyone and the people that witnessed it lied cause they were scared my dad got away with it I called dcfs and they and thing happend my dad found out where I was and dragged me by my neck out so I can talk to a dcfs worker I told her what happend but she was just gonna leave us there so I ran away again. My dad keeps finding me cause I don’t have rlly anywhere to go idk if I’ll be able to get emancipated after running away but is it possible for me to go to school still. If so how cause I rlly wanna finish my education but I don’t wanna go back.

[Guest]

I'll be 16 next month and I've run away from a foster home. I am comfortable and I k own I'm safe where I am but I've been posted as a missing person. I want to enroll in an online school because I get to graduate early this year... what are my options? I do NOT want to go back to foster care!!!! Please help

[ccsmod10]

Hi there, we really appreciate you reaching out for help, we know it isn't easy to do. It sounds like you feel safe where you are but are worried that you might be forced to return to somewhere you were unhappy against your will. This can feel scary and anxiety-inducing, and these feelings are normal. We can talk more about your options, but might need to know more about your personal situation. If you can, please text or call us at 1-800-786-2929 or text chat us from our website 1800runway.org and we can discuss your situation.