<p>Hi Musicz, the adults couldn’t answer because you mentioned college and moving etc. They stopped hearing after that. You need to memorize something simple. Some ideas of what to say have been suggested earlier. “I need your help, my parents took me out of school when I was 15 and I’m trying to resume my compulsory schooling even though they don’t want me to, can you help me?” They’ll ask for details. At that point do not speak about dual enrollment yet, or about moving to the town 4 hours away. Reiterate that you’re a minor, that your family, including relatives, have prevented you from obtaining an education, kept you home and/or put you to work for over 2 years, that you’ve managed to get here (the town/high school etc) on your own to get help, and that you can’t attend the local high school because your entire family lives around so it wouldn’t be safe. Once they’ve started things, see how they can get you emancipated/declared independent but that’s another step. Finally, once they’ve found a way for you to leave your family and get registered at a high school, tell the high school that you’d like to take some classes in dual enrollment, and indicate what classes. You will probably not be able to attend that community college you found, 4 hours away, this year. But next year, you could move, or find another place, just because you can’t go there right away doesn’t mean you won’t. Right now you need to get out of your situation, make the authorities aware of it, and make them understand that your parents don’t support the idea of your being educated.</p>
<p>Most people won’t understand that by talking about independent status, you are talking about a legal change. Emancipation is a legal process involving a petition, and you must be living away from your parents (or married, or in the service, etc.) to file it. Here are the instructions: [How</a> to Become Emancipated From Parents for Student Financial Aid | eHow](<a href=“http://www.ehow.com/how_7917759_become-parents-student-financial-aid.html]How”>http://www.ehow.com/how_7917759_become-parents-student-financial-aid.html) You can request the petition at a courthouse but you cannot just walk into court. You might even need an advocate or lawyer: I am not sure.</p>
<p>To the people who think I don’t understand the issues as well, because I advise caution before reporting the parents or involving the social work system, believe me, I do understand the issues. However, I don’t think you understand that the social work system is NOT benign and Musicz is better off resolving things some other way.</p>
<p>Also, to report his parents might very well sever his connection to family forever. We do not know enough to encourage that course of action. I know other parents without means who say they cannot help with college and because they are working, cannot drive the student to school. We do not know the full circumstances of why Musicz was home during high school. Maybe there was a health or mental health issue the school did not handle properly, for instance. Let’s not turn into an online lynch mob here, against the parents. Let’s just help Musicz.</p>
<p>No Musicz, the best possible thing for you to do is to attend some sort of alternative high school near your home. The city near us has two, one in the evening and one during the day, and it is not even a large city. Is there anything like that near you?</p>
<p>To simplify things: the community college is too far away and you cannot afford an apartment or a car. It is not an option right now. If you work for a few months, maybe you can save up and find a roommate on craigslist near the college. Your local high school would still need to be involved if you do dual enrollment.</p>
<p>Can you stand to live at home for awhile longer? Is there an alternative high school program that would fit your needs, nearby? This would be the best path I think, if it is available. Alternative high schools have lots of kids in your situation, and counseling, close ties to faculty and so on.</p>
<p>None of us knows your family situation. If you want anything to do with your family for the rest of your life, don’t follow the advice on here in terms of reporting your family. </p>
<p>By the way, when you turn 23 the parents’ information won’t need to be on the FAFSA. Long time to wait, but people do it. Take classes one by one as you can pay for them in the meantime, if you do end up living near the college.</p>
<p>I meant “Now musicz” not “No musicz”…my editing is not working.</p>
<p>Take the GED somewhere ASAP. Then join the army and get out. I still think the army will help you find a way to take that GED. Serve a few years, grow up, go to college.</p>
<p>I know a son of a friend who was living with his somewhat personality disordered father. The influence of the father allowed the kid to mostly play World of Warcraft all day…I think he graduated HS or got a GED and might have also worked at McDonalds and might have taken a community college class…but mostly WoW. </p>
<p>I think to move on with his life and get out of under the influence of his father and not be reliant on the dad to finance anything, he joined the Air Force to learn to become a medic.</p>
<p>So that is definitely another option.</p>
<p>Once more, I’m going to say…while there have been some good suggestions offered, this situation sounds way to complex to be solved on an Internet message board.</p>
<p>I will say to the OP, going to a High School four hours away is NOT an option right now. Most places require students to attend the high school where their parents are residents. Going four hours away will likely require you to pay tuition to that High School as a non-resident.</p>
<p>I don’t know if the military is an option. It requires being in sound physical and mental health, to belong to a religion or philosophy where you’re allowed to kill other human beings, or that allows you to bear arms; and, of course, one must be willing to get shot at, wounded, or killed in the service.
Getting the authorities involved, being -re-enrolled in school, being emancipated and declared independent, getting a diploma (with/without dual enrollment) or a GED, all these steps seem better suited to a minor’s situation.</p>
<p>This is a safe line - you don’t need to identify yourself, you can explain your situation, (which is called “child neglect”):
1-800-4-a-child (don’t dial the -'s)</p>
<p>Musicz, I hope that you’re safe and that your parents can’t “track” what you’re doing. They may be in a situation where they’re too out of it to care, but if they want to control your contact with the “outside” world you need to make it clear to the adults who are involved that if they get back to your parents, there will be severe consequences for you (which you’d need to give examples of so that they can realize what you’re talking about, but also to check whether you’re “exagerating” - being grounded vs. being locked inside, one being a normal punishment, the other not. Being deprived of cell phone = normal punishment, being deprived of food = not normal.)</p>
<p>Please don’t call anyone or talk to anyone about your family unless you are prepared for the consequences, which could be ugly and could permanently ruin your relationships with your family.</p>
<p>We do not have enough information to make this suggestion.</p>
<p>compmom , </p>
<p>Emancipation for FALSA is not easy. Too many kids want quasi-emancipation to be able to qualify for financial aid. Colleges try to close this loophole.</p>
<p>I think, emancipation is possible only if you 1) live independently, and 2) have financial means to support yourself. OP has neither.</p>
<p>I don’t understand HS position. Why can’t they accept OP as a student? It is the most obvious decision … to return to the neighborhood HS, especially since it is in a bike-able distance. </p>
<p>I don’t see the reason to blame parents. As far as I can see, parents never restricted OP’s ability to attend his local HS.</p>
<p>MYOS1634,</p>
<p>OP is almost 18-years old man. His parents are, probably, older than 40. Most likely, OP is stronger (physically) than his parents. </p>
<p>I am a typical 40+ woman, without martial art training. I know that an 18-year old man would easily overpower me. I can’t imagine circumstances, when a teenage boy can be physically restrained or physically harmed by his parents (unless he has disability or parents have a gun).</p>
<p>Californiaaa–</p>
<p>To everyone; Sorry I have not replied yet. thanks for continuing with help an suggestions or anything as it does help.</p>
<p>To californiaaa; I see how you do not understand my complete circumstances and possibly think from the view point of ‘parents or family issues’ as something a ‘normal’ 18 year old would have. (such as hatred towards parents for things as mentioned above. phone taken away etc…) However my opinion on view points is that I never try to assume the possibility of someone’s situation if I have not been completely explained the situation to. Nor to assume the age of someone has any restrictions on them such as anything to do with their physical capabilities. (only the laws can be assumed as they are the same facts to everyone, unless different living location however that’s beyond the point) Please do not assume things about me but only ask as I would gladly try to explain. To your ‘physical’ view point, if you would just change the word ‘physical’ to verbal. I will not state much more of my current family state here unless it has any positive effect towards the situation, as it has a huge negative affect on me. I do hope you and everyone understands, and if that is where this shall end then I will glady thank everyone very much and take the information I have an try my best.</p>
<p>Musicz ,</p>
<p>Could you please give an example? </p>
<p>How exactly your parents restrict you from going to your HS? For example, if you bike to your HS and tell the Principal that you want to continue going to classes … could HS refuse to accept you?</p>
<p>“Nor to assume the age of someone has any restrictions on them such as anything to do with their physical capabilities.” </p>
<p>If you would be an 8-year old kid, my reply would be very different. Age does matter 
You are a man, in the prime years of your life. </p>
<p>Good luck with everything! I am sure you’ll get HS diploma, if you wish to get it.</p>
<p>Musicz ,</p>
<p>Yes, I assume that an 18-year old, healthy, strong, young man, in his prime, can do with his life whatever he wants. You have a zillion of opportunities in front of you. I can’t imagine how your parents can restrict you.</p>
<p>Californiaa, I posted the requirements for emancipation status for the FAFSA and they have nothing to do with where you live or whether you support yourself. Abuse, military service, marriage, things like that…</p>
<p>Musicz, good luck. Things will work out but they may take a little time. Take one step at a time and seek out constructive help, without burning any bridges if you can. Take care!</p>
<p>compmom ,</p>
<p>OP is not in the military service, he is not married, and he is not abused, as far as we know.</p>
<p>FALSA is very restrictive, because many kids abuse it and try to claim “emancipated status” to get financial aid.</p>
<p>As a minor, there is PLENTY Op’s parents can keep him/her from doing.
There are many reasons why we can’t assume OP is a healthy, strong, 18 year old man, and I can imagine many ways in which an 18 (17 exactly) could be weaker than a 40 year old woman. We don’t know if OP is male or female. We don’t know if OP has a disability or a physical problem or an illness. We don’t know where OP lives - OP could live in town, but OP could live in a compound 20 miles from the nearest HS. (Also, keep in mind that OP NEVER was registered at the local HS. OP was pulled out of another HS, his/her family moved away and kept him/her at home.) We don’t know how tall the OP is. We don’t know whether OP has been, at any point in his/her life, malnourished, mistreated, put to work in difficult condition. I knew a teen with an improperly healed fracture in the leg and general bone frailty, who was also weakened by lice and worms. That kid wouldn’t be stronger than anyone older than 13.
This may not apply to OP, so I apologize, but based on my experience only, for ALL kids (100%) whose parents pulled them out of school, it was the tip of the iceberg. There were issues of control and generally psychological abuse if not outright physical abuse. Some of the parents I knew did so because they did not value the kid (usually a girl) being educated. Other parents were “out of it” due to drugs or alcohol. Many simply saw the kid as a way to make money, 19th century style. In some cases, they were supposed to replace the parent. In all these situations, abuse was rampant. The psychological damage was real. For complete obedience, the parents didn’t need to chain, beat, burn, or starve their kids (sometimes that had been done often enough in childhood that it was no longer necessary to obtain compliance; often it was just mental manipulation with guilt and fear instilled daily. To understand how an adult can manipulate a younger person, you can read anything from Rag and Bone Shop to Counterfeit Son to various memoirs.)
None of this may apply to OP, obviously.
As Compmom and Thumper said, we don’t know enough to be practically useful, except to provide support, phone numbers, suggestions. And we don’t know enough to give the exact information needed for OP in his/her specific state and county.
We only know one thing: one day, OP’s parents decided he/she would be more useful/better off at home, than at school.
Depriving a 15 year old from education and considering that their time belongs to the family/community happens in some groups. In the case of the Amish, it’s actually legal, but even Amish kids must undergo some form of training until their majority. In all other cases, it’s * illegal*.
OP should do something about it. What exactly is beyond what we can do.</p>
<p>Well, the parents aren’t watching that closely…he did get on the Internet and make his way to us…</p>
<p>It is interesting, in what state OP is living.</p>
<p>Maximum compulsory age and corresponding number of states:</p>
<p>Age 16: 19 states and the Virgin Islands Age
17: 11 states
Age 18: 20 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico</p>
<p>If he was withdrawn from school at 15.5 and home schooled until 16 in a state, where compensatory age is 16, than his parents are within their legal rights.</p>
<p>for example,</p>
<p>Montana: requires that a child shall remain in school until the latter of either the child’s 16th birthday or the date of completion of the work of the eighth grade.</p>
<p>Obviously, 8th grade was completed by OP. His parents may be within their legal rights.</p>
<p>The parents aren’t watching closely (can be due to not being physically present, can be due to being, hm, mentally absent) OR OP has developed survival strategies that allow him/her to estimate risks and find ways to reach out. Or … OP isn’t in any such a situation at all.</p>
<p>Let us not forget about smartphones or parents who are clueless about computers.
(As a sidenote: even kids in very difficult situations may have material possessions that would belie their tribulations. Sometimes what the family wants to project outside and what the family does away from the public eye can be quite different.)</p>
<p>In Texas (where OP lives), a child MUST be enrolled in a school until the end of the school year in which his/her 18th birthday occurs.</p>