Question: Can a Private school in PA legally hold educational transcripts if there is money owed on tuition?
My child has attended a private Catholic High School in Pennsylvania for his Freshman, Sophmore, and Junior years. Now comes his Senior
year and they want the owed tuition PLUS his Sr. year tuition in advance. We can’t financially do that, so my child has decided that
an online accredited school is a good option (Our public school is
very “bad”…not academically, but You Know) Anyway: when I asked the school to fax the educational transcript to the online schools’ office, they told me they won’t do that until every penny is paid…that it is THEIR right to hold it. I explained that it was them who allowed my child to continue, knowing the debt was getting larger, yet everytime I stated I would remove him from the school, they told me not to, that they would “work with me”. Now: his Senior year: and they refuse to relinquish the transcript to the other school, and have told me that
“He’ll just have to quit until this is paid”.
What can I do? Isn’t this what the Family Educational Act is? Do I need to file a civil suite on this? I am in total panic here….he gets
A’s and B’s….We are not that religion and it has always been an issue with the school for my child…but my child attended because it was the best academic school in the area and my only other recourse was the online school. I am by no means slamming the Catholic faith. I do know that the Pope said on his visit that Catholic education is to be made available to EVERY child, regardless of ability to pay, income, race, etc…
well, they aren’t following what he said!
Can I get some advice here as to what recourse I have?
I need to add here that he went from
Catholic school 8th grade into the High School, we didn’t sign any contract. That is not to mean we don’t intend to pay. I have offered an agreement, even one recorded in the courthouse, to get the transcript, but they refuse.
I have attempted to compromise with the school, to no avail. I spoke with the financial officer, and the ast. principal both: who both sternly said: “no transcript until it’s all paid, he’ll just have to quit”. Several people of Catholic faith that I am friends with, one a large contributor to that particular school, are very upset over this reaction. The school has allowed him to go for 3 yrs, now they are destroying his educational options by (for lack of a better word)
blackmailing us using his transcript as the “prize” for tuition owed. I have tried every option: payment arrangements, etc….all end in a dead end. I really didn’t think holding the transcripts was legal, unless they were from the Sr. year.

Sadly, they CAN do that. Usually, it’s only if you’re behind on payments or have stopped making payments. Have you talked to the school about a payment plan in exchange for the transcripts?

I’m afraid that YES they can do that. Re-read your contract – very carefully – and I’ll bet it’s in there. Does your school offer financial aid? Maybe you could apply. Otherwise, make an appointment with the headmaster and explain your finances. Now I’m not saying to offer up private, personal information unless you feel you can trust the headmaster. But I do think face to face conversations can do much more for your situation than phone call, letter or e-mail. One can see the sincerity in a person much better that way.

I don’t have an answer for you; but wanted to share an almost identical story. My daughter a rising senior is having her transcripts withheld as well. The school is with holding her transcripts until I’ve paid everything which is impossible. She is to go to a public school in another state for her senior year and I’m getting the school to request the transcripts. I’m told that the transferring to school can request them and they have to comply. I’ll let you know if that works. I’ve got two weeks in order to make this happen, so I feel for you as well.
keep my email address; if you turn up something different let me know as well. I’ll keep you posted. renescott@360fotova.com

The schools may put a hold on your transcipts for the tution which is not paidl However this only happens at a college or a university. When it comes to high school this can not be done. The only harm that come is to the education of student. I can’t believe that Catholic school is doing this. Did you talk to clerk who did not know any better. The school has to have a reasonable payment plan. How they let the tution pile up over three years is beyond me. If speak to the Father or the Mother Superior about this and get nowhere. Make an appointment the Cardinal of the Monsignor of the Archdiocese. Try to keep your son in school for the senior year. If after all this does not work hire an attorney to represent your son. Your son is most important person that is involved with this mess. Why don’t you and the School shake hands and try to make a comprise. A comprise is the solution to all of the problems.

Please leave your answer in the comments! Thanks.