The start of a new school year can be exciting for children and stressful for divorced or separated parents. Between school schedules, transportation, extracurricular activities, homework, and parent-teacher meetings, families have a lot to coordinate.

For parents who share custody, planning ahead can help prevent disagreements and make the transition back to school easier for everyone. Reviewing your custody arrangement before the school year begins can also help identify potential issues before they become disputes.

Review Your Custody Order

Before school starts, take time to review your existing custody order or parenting agreement. Pay particular attention to provisions addressing:

• Weekday and weekend parenting time
• School-year and summer schedules
• Transportation and exchanges
• Holidays and school breaks
• Pick-up and drop-off responsibilities
• Communication between parents
• Extracurricular activities
• Educational decision-making

A custody order may have different provisions for the school year than for summer vacation. Understanding the schedule in advance can help both parents know what to expect once school begins.

If the existing schedule no longer works for your family, do not simply assume that an informal change will be sufficient. Depending on the circumstances, parents may need to modify their custody agreement or seek a modification through the court.

Make Sure Both Parents Have the School Calendar

School calendars contain important dates that can affect parenting time. In addition to the first and last days of school, parents should look for:

• School closures
• Early dismissal days
• School holidays
• Winter and spring breaks
• Parent-teacher conferences
• Professional development days
• School events
• Graduation or other significant events

Sharing the calendar can help parents coordinate parenting time and avoid last-minute disagreements.

Clarify Transportation Responsibilities

Transportation can quickly become a source of conflict when parents have different work schedules or live in different areas.

Parents should make sure they understand who is responsible for getting the child to and from school, as well as how transportation will work on days when the child is transitioning between households.

If the custody order specifies particular exchange locations or transportation responsibilities, those terms should be followed unless the parents agree to another arrangement.

Keep School Communication Open

Parents should make reasonable efforts to ensure that both remain informed about their child’s education.

Where appropriate, both parents should have access to school information, including report cards, schedules, school communications, and information about important events. Parents can also communicate directly with the school about how each parent should receive notices and updates.

Keeping both parents informed can help reduce misunderstandings and, most importantly, allow both parents to remain involved in their child’s education.

Coordinate Extracurricular Activities

Sports, music lessons, clubs, and other activities can add another layer of scheduling to an already busy school year.

Before enrolling a child in a recurring activity, divorced parents should consider how practices, games, rehearsals, and competitions will affect the existing parenting schedule.

If an activity requires significant time, transportation, or financial commitments from both parents, discussing those details in advance can help prevent disagreements later.

Parents should also review their custody order for provisions concerning extracurricular activities and shared expenses before enrolling their children in an activity.

Communicate About School Supplies and Expenses

Back-to-school expenses can include much more than notebooks and pencils. Parents may need to plan for uniforms, technology, activity fees, sports equipment, field trips, and other school-related costs.

If the parents’ custody order or separation agreement addresses responsibility for educational or extracurricular expenses, review those provisions before the school year begins.

Keeping receipts and communicating clearly about shared expenses can also help prevent unnecessary conflict.

Consider Your Child’s Transition Between Homes

Children may have different routines at each parent’s home. While parents do not need to run identical households, maintaining some consistency around school-related routines can make the transition easier.

Parents may want to communicate about:

• Bedtimes and morning routines
• Homework expectations
• Screen time
• School projects
• Medication or other daily needs
• Sports and extracurricular commitments

The goal is not necessarily for both households to operate exactly the same way. Rather, clear communication can help children move between households without feeling caught in the middle.

Put Your Child First

Back-to-school planning should ultimately focus on the child’s needs rather than the parents’ disagreements.

Children generally benefit when parents communicate appropriately, follow established schedules, and avoid making them responsible for passing messages or resolving disputes between adults.

Parents should also be cautious about discussing custody disagreements with their children or asking them to choose between households.

What If the Current Custody Schedule Is No Longer Working?

Circumstances can change after a custody order is entered. A parent’s work schedule may change, a child may start attending a different school, parents may move, or a child’s educational or extracurricular needs may evolve.

If the existing custody arrangement no longer serves the child’s best interests or is no longer practical, a parent may want to explore whether a modification is appropriate.

Maryland custody decisions are based on the best interests of the child, and the appropriate legal approach depends on the circumstances of each family.

Start Planning Before the First Day of School

A little preparation can go a long way toward reducing back-to-school custody conflicts. Reviewing the custody order, sharing the school calendar, coordinating transportation, discussing expenses, and communicating about extracurricular activities can help parents begin the school year with clearer expectations.

If you are a divorced or separated parent in Maryland and have questions about your custody arrangement, parenting time, or a potential modification, an experienced Maryland family law attorney can help you understand your rights and options.

Contact Rodier Family Law to discuss your circumstances and determine what steps may be appropriate for your family.