Families for Home Education - Withdrawal Letter

Withdrawal Letter

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1. Join FHE
2. Know Missouri Law
3. Order First Things First
4. Notify your former school
5. Browse for Resources

If your child has been attending a public school, it is important that you explain your child's absence to school authorities so they don't consider your child truant. We have below a sample letter available for your reference. If you wish, you may also download the letter.

Please note that in 1990, the law was modified to require parents who wish to remove five and six-year-old children from a public school setting to do so in writing. This is merely a notification, not a request of permission or to be construed as a registration.

To print a PDF copy of the sample letter, Click Here.

SAMPLE WITHDRAWAL LETTER

Paul & Penny Parent
1983 Liberty Dr
Responsibility, MO 6xxxx                               (Your Name and Address)

July 8, 2008                                                     (Current Date)

Joseph Bureaucrat, Supt.
18 Public Street                                              (Your Superintendent’s Name and Address)
Responsibility, MO 6xxxx

Dear Sir:

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 167.031 (RSMo), we have elected to educate our ___ grade son/daughter, Chris, at home.

Please forward copies of all records that you have accumulated on our son/daughter to the above address. Include copies of all health records, standardized test results, and all other evaluations, records and reports presently in your files. (Note: This request is made pursuant to The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act [FERPA] of 1974.)

We realize that you have statutory responsibility for the investigation of cases of suspected truancy regarding public school students. Therefore, this letter is being sent to release the public school system from that responsibility.

It must be pointed out, however, that this letter shall not be construed to be a “declaration of enrollment” or registration, which is an option contained in Chapter 167.042 (RSMo), nor are you   permitted to include our child(ren) as part of your student count for the purpose of obtaining state or federal money.

Thank you for your attention in this matter. If you have any questions, please submit them to us in writing.

Respectfully,

Paul & Penny Parent

P.S. Attached are copies of the relevant Missouri Statutes, 167.031, 167.042, 167.061, 167.071 and 210.167 RSMo.

Note to parents: The “P.S.” is optional. If you photocopy the pages from “First Things First,” please mask the page numbers, FHE logo, the notes from FHE, and clipart. It would be best if you obtained your copies of the statures from another source like the Missouri government website http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes.