I never mentioned public or private. Again, I'm surprised that it's legal to keep academic records from a student.

 

Colleges do it all the time for tuition owed , parking tickets on campus etc....

Can someone break down what exactly has happened ?

I'm shocked that schools can keep a student's academic record from them, contract or not. They certainly have a right to the tuition money, of course, but obtain it through other means, not the withholding of a transcript.

 

How else are schools to get the money owed them? You'd be SHOCKED how much money in unpaid tuition is sitting on the books.

How else are schools to get the money owed them? You'd be SHOCKED how much money in unpaid tuition is sitting on the books.

I would assume that they could work through the courts, just like any other business that has customers that owe them money.

I would assume that they could work through the courts, just like any other business that has customers that owe them money.

 

This is something that they have. Not all businesses have to go through the courts either. You can withhold returning something you fixed until payment is made. A contractor can put a materialman's lien on property to try and get payment.

 

Just one available extrajudicial rememdy.

I would assume that they could work through the courts, just like any other business that has customers that owe them money.

 

....and have to spend money to get a judgement........and hopefully collect?

This is something that they have. Not all businesses have to go through the courts either. You can withhold returning something you fixed until payment is made. A contractor can put a materialman's lien on property to try and get payment.

 

Just one available extrajudicial rememdy.

I'm simply of the opinion that a student's educational records should not be used as a bargaining chip.

....and have to spend money to get a judgement........and hopefully collect?

 

School districts already have attorneys.

 

Again, I'm of the opinion that a student's educational records should not be used as a bargaining chip.

I'm simply of the opinion that a student's educational records should not be used as a bargaining chip.

 

I'll be 100% honest. I've been in the position where I was behind in tuition, and my daughter would not have been allowed to graduate with her class, nor get her transcript for college, if I hadn't paid up. It never occurred to me that this was anything they couldn't or shouldn't do. I remember similar happening when I was in high school, when my dad lost his job. I would have to dig, but I think that this info is imparted within the process of applying for financial aid as well...it's not a surprise.

I'm simply of the opinion that a student's educational records should not be used as a bargaining chip.

 

School districts already have attorneys.

 

Again, I'm of the opinion that a student's educational records should not be used as a bargaining chip.

 

I'll be 100% honest. I've been in the position where I was behind in tuition, and my daughter would not have been allowed to graduate with her class, nor get her transcript for college, if I hadn't paid up. It never occurred to me that this was anything they couldn't or shouldn't do. I remember similar happening when I was in high school, when my dad lost his job. I would have to dig, but I think that this info is imparted within the process of applying for financial aid as well...it's not a surprise.

 

There's something that bothers me about punishing the kid for something that is out of the kid's control. It seems too extreme IMO but I guess that is one way to collect the tuition money. Feels too much like extortion.

I never mentioned public or private. Again, I'm surprised that it's legal to keep academic records from a student.

 

The records belong to the school. If there are financial obligations that haven't been met they can be withheld. Very common practice. Non-Issue. 900 years ago when I was in high school diplomas were withheld until caps and gowns were returned and all financial obligations were met. At the ceremony only the cover was given to us when we crossed the stage. After we went to a large room where we returned the garb. They had a list with them. If your name was on it you owed money (unpaid library fine, book not returned, lab fee unpaid etc.). If you weren't on that list you got your diploma if you were you didn't.

I would assume that they could work through the courts, just like any other business that has customers that owe them money.

 

You can't repo an education.

I never mentioned public or private. Again, I'm surprised that it's legal to keep academic records from a student.

 

Talked to a buddy who is a high ranking school administrator about this Lec Cath situation Thursday. He said withholding transcripts was very illegal and he had the KAR or KRS, which ever one he said it is, that referenced this on his desk because it had been questioned before at his school. So it might go on, but evidently its not legal to do so.

The records belong to the school. If there are financial obligations that haven't been met they can be withheld. Very common practice. Non-Issue. 900 years ago when I was in high school diplomas were withheld until caps and gowns were returned and all financial obligations were met. At the ceremony only the cover was given to us when we crossed the stage. After we went to a large room where we returned the garb. They had a list with them. If your name was on it you owed money (unpaid library fine, book not returned, lab fee unpaid etc.). If you weren't on that list you got your diploma if you were you didn't.

 

Talked to a buddy who is a high ranking school administrator about this Lec Cath situation Thursday. He said withholding transcripts was very illegal and he had the KAR or KRS, which ever one he said it is, that referenced this on his desk because it had been questioned before at his school. So it might go on, but evidently its not legal to do so.

 

I'm not sure about the school that I currently work at, but at my previous school, our counselor said that we could not legally keep educational records over financial obligations. The diploma itself is best thought of as a tangible award. Whether or not one has the actual diploma, if they met the district's graduation requirements, they've graduated, regardless of if they walk the line or have the piece of paper that goes in the folder.

 

Whether it actual IS legal or not, I don't believe that it's the right thing to do. A child has no control over whether or not a parent pays a bill, even though they have earned the grades, etc. I completely agree with not allowing extracurricular activities if financial obligations have been met and I am 100% for a school being able to seek legal means of obtaining any and all monies owed them. I am just against holding an earned educational record of a student over financial obligations.

You can't repo an education.

 

Nor can you repo services, but people get sued all of the time for not paying for services for which they've contracted.