Private schools and exemptions

[HRJ]

We are considering sending our son to a Catholic school next year.  I know that private schools don't have to accept exemptions, but I talked to the school nurse and she was like "oh just write a note saying you have philosophical reasons for not vaxxing.  We have one other family that does that."  Our state does have all 3 exemptions.  I am just nervous that if I got into a contract w/ them and then they got squirlly about it, that I'd lose my tuition money for the year.  Should I have them write something into the contract that the contract is in effect only when under philosophical exemption?

[elus0814]

We homeschool but sent our unvaxxed kids to a Catholic school for two months this fall. I was so nervous about it since it was in NY where exemptions are difficult. My sister tried to send her kids to a public school there and, after trying to fight it, had to get them caught up. Now they're sick all the time and just look generally unhealthy. I was really nervous about it and since the kids were only going to be there a couple months I tried to just not say anything. The nurse sent home a note two days after they started. I wrote a letter saying the we believe God grants parents the authority to make decisions in the best interest of their children and we do not believe vaccines are in the best interest of our children's health. No problem at all. The nurse took the letter no questions asked. She also said that if we weren't comfortable writing a letter like that we could get them each just one vaccine and she could use it as proof that our kids were on a catch up schedule. We choose the letter but I suppose just one vax rather than all of them wouldn't have been too terrible and would have been a decent compromise if they wouldn't or couldn't accept the letter.

[elus0814]

I want to add that schools that receive any kind of government funding must accept exemptions but if they don't receive any funding it is up to the school.

[HRJ]

Do Catholic schools ever receive public funding?  I was under the assumption that they don't. 
 

Originally Posted by elus0814 

I want to add that schools that receive any kind of government funding must accept exemptions but if they don't receive any funding it is up to the school.

[serenbat]

depends on what they want to tell you- in my state, I worked in the school office and caf. (Catholic) and they got govt. food, they "considerate" this NON-funding because it was not money!

[ma2two]

I'm always reading about "government funding" on vaccine forums, but I've never seen that mentioned in any vaccination laws. I think it's just a myth that just continues to be passed around.

I don't know what state you're in . New Jersey law allows religious schools to reject religious exemptions. There may be a few other states where there may be an issue. But in most states, the exemption laws apply to both public and private schools.

There's no way a reputable school would keep your tuition money if they denied your exemption. It wouldn't even occur to me to worry about that.  Adding it to the contract would only call more attention to things than necessary.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by ma2two 

I'm always reading about "government funding" on vaccine forums, but I've never seen that mentioned in any vaccination laws. I think it's just a myth that just continues to be passed around.

I don't know what state you're in . New Jersey law allows religious schools to reject religious exemptions. There may be a few other states where there may be an issue. But in most states, the exemption laws apply to both public and private schools.

There's no way a reputable school would keep your tuition money if they denied your exemption. It wouldn't even occur to me to worry about that.  Adding it to the contract would only call more attention to things than necessary.

"Government funding" determines whether or not it is considered a fully private school. Taking money from the government comes with legal strings.

Vaccination law (the requirement to vaccinate to attend school or daycare) often applies to public and private, but private schools are nearly always free to reject exemptions.

[Peony]

I send DD1 to a private christian school, our exemption is not an issue, they accept it no questions asked. I do however file a religious exemption rather than a philosophical one which I could do in my state. My reasoning is that being a religious school, they are less likely to object to beliefs based on religion rather then me just saying that I don't believe in vaxs. For the record I am actually am an atheist so I obviously have no religious beliefs against vaxs, but is ever questioned, "my religion is private to me and I wish not to discuss it" is my answer. 

[chelsmm]

My dd will be starting at a private Catholic school in the fall.  I called and spoke with the nurse about vaccination exemption before we sent in the first check.  She said that they would accept our exemption.  They don't have to accept it, I don't think, because they don't accept any funding from the government.  They take no money, no food, etc.  The whole school is tuition funded.  So they are allowed to exclude people.  We will file a religious exemption because that is what our state allows.  I have heard of Catholic schools refusing exemption letters before.  

[HRJ]

Here is what makes me nervous.  The school we are looking at is in the midst of new leadership.  they have an interm principle that is leaving and two nuns are coming.  It makes me nervous to commit to a year's tuition w/ this change.  What if the nuns come in and decide no exemptions?  The school nurse will be the same.  Registration is this week, and I have to bring my exemption w/ birth cert in lieu of vaccine records.  If they accept us, and we sign a contract with the exemption on file, can they change their minds mid year?  I would HATE to lose that money. 

[ma2two]

I suppose it's possible, but very unlikely. If they do kick your kid out midyear for that reason without giving a tuition refund, you could sue in small claims court and very easily win.

[ammiga]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II 

Originally Posted by ma2two 

I'm always reading about "government funding" on vaccine forums, but I've never seen that mentioned in any vaccination laws. I think it's just a myth that just continues to be passed around.

I don't know what state you're in . New Jersey law allows religious schools to reject religious exemptions. There may be a few other states where there may be an issue. But in most states, the exemption laws apply to both public and private schools.

There's no way a reputable school would keep your tuition money if they denied your exemption. It wouldn't even occur to me to worry about that.  Adding it to the contract would only call more attention to things than necessary.

"Government funding" determines whether or not it is considered a fully private school. Taking money from the government comes with legal strings.

Vaccination law (the requirement to vaccinate to attend school or daycare) often applies to public and private, but private schools are nearly always free to reject exemptions.

If the law applies to private schools, how can they reject them? I'm not sure I understand that statement. The law is the law. Our dd's private school accepts her exemption because the law says they have to.