Re: WHO IS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILD?

From: Holly Elissa
Email: hollyelissab@comcast.net
Date: May 25, 2007

Comments

Dr. Teri! What a treat to have you join us.

Your point about this relationship being formed by a contract is well taken. The contract is made between the program and the enrolling parent.

I think that contract would "fall", however, if it restricts the legal rights of the other parent to have access to the child.

The state may well have a stronger interest in ensuring both parent's right to custody of their child, than the state has an interest in supporting a contract between one parent and an early childhood program.

When i was teaching the Early Childhood Admin course in PA one year, the state of PA sent down a ruling/regulation that reminded everyone of the primacy of a parent's right to custody of the child. In that case, even if a parent may have been under the influence of alcholol, that parent's custody right was not diminished.