As summer winds down and backpacks start replacing beach towels, families across Arizona are shifting gears for the coming school year. This seasonal transition can bring additional challenges to co-parenting: juggling parenting schedules, new school-related decisions, managing school-related expenses, and ensuring children feel supported, no matter which home they are staying in.
If you’re sharing parenting responsibilities, back to school co-parenting requires extra planning and communication—but it’s also a valuable opportunity to work together in the best interest of your child. At McMurdie Law & Mediation, we help Arizona families prepare for school transitions by reviewing parenting plans, clarifying legal decision-making roles, and finding practical solutions to common co-parenting concerns.
Here’s what you should know to support a smooth and cooperative start to the school year.
Co-Parenting During the School Year: Communication Is Key
Whether you’re new to co-parenting or have a long-standing arrangement, school-year routines often expose gaps in coordination. It’s not just about drop-offs and pick-ups—it’s also about making unified decisions, dealing in concert with the school administration and teachers, sharing school responsibilities, and ensuring your child isn’t caught in the middle.
Here are a few ways to improve back-to-school coordination:
- Share calendars including all school events, early release days, and extracurriculars.
- Agree on routines such as homework, bedtime, and screen time to help children maintain consistency.
- Communicate regularly via text, email, or co-parenting apps to stay updated on school notices, academic progress, and behavior issues.
Most importantly, try to present a united voice when it comes to supporting your child’s education. When children see their parents working together—even from separate homes—they feel more secure and focused on their own life, their own homework and what is expected in the classroom.
Parenting Plans and School-Year Adjustments
Some parenting plans are designed with flexibility in mind, while others may need seasonal modifications. If your existing plan doesn’t reflect your child’s current academic, emotional, or scheduling needs, now is a great time to consider a modification. Bring it up to date with the new school year’s changes.
Examples of potential back-to-school parenting plan changes include:
- Adjusting weekday parenting time to align with after-school activities or tutoring
- Changing transportation responsibilities to reduce school-week disruptions
- Reassessing holiday schedules in light of new school calendars or extracurricular events
Any modification should be reviewed and filed properly to remain enforceable. At McMurdie Law & Mediation, we assist parents in updating parenting plans either through private mediation or legal filings through an addendum or updated parenting plan as needed.
Legal Decision-Making and Educational Choices
Arizona law uses the term legal decision-making to refer to a parent’s authority to make major decisions on behalf of the child, including those related to education, healthcare, and religion. This can be joint (shared by both parents) or sole (granted to one parent). Some parents divided up “final decision making” when there is an impasse to resolve potential stalemates on decisions in different areas of decision making.
If you and your co-parent share joint legal decision-making, you are required to consult each other before making significant educational decisions, such as:
- Changing schools or districts
- Enrolling in special education or advanced programs
- Approving IEPs or 504 Plans
- Making choices about extracurricular activities, tutoring, or private education
Disagreements in these areas can become a source of tension. In such cases, it may be helpful to consult with a family mediator or attorney to resolve the issue before it disrupts your child’s school year.
Supporting Your Child’s School Life from Both Homes
Children thrive when both parents are engaged in their academic journey. Here are a few ways co-parents can support their child’s learning experience and social growth:
- Attend parent-teacher conferences together, when possible, to sustain unity.
- Share school updates, report cards, and teacher communications.
- Make sure the child has school supplies, clothes, and technology at both homes to reduce stress.
- Work together to attend performances, games, and events— and it is OK to sit separately if that creates ease for everyone.
Children benefit when they don’t feel like they “have to choose” which parent supports their activities. Even if you and your co-parent have different schedules or priorities, showing mutual encouragement goes a long way.
Back to School Can Be a Fresh Start for Co-Parents
A new school year isn’t just about new teachers and classes—it’s also a chance for co-parents to re-commit to collaboration and consistency. If your current plan needs updating, or if you’re struggling to communicate effectively with your co-parent, professional support can make a world of difference.
At McMurdie Law & Mediation, we help Arizona families create and adjust parenting plans that work during the school year and beyond. Through legal guidance, private mediation, and child-focused planning, we help you prioritize what matters most: your child’s success.
Contact McMurdie Law & Mediation today to review your parenting plan or schedule a mediation session. Let’s make this school year smoother—for you and your children.