Cancellation fee for a contract we never knew existed

There are 2 ways to get Photoshop.

An annual contract paid monthly or prepaid  means there is a 12 month commitment.  Your price does not increase during the 12 month subscription period.  But if you cancel early, there is a 50% penalty fee on the remaining balance.   So if you cancel 8 months into your subscription, you pay about $40 on the reaming $80 balance.

A month-to-month plan means there is no commitment on either side.  You pay a little more per month and your price may increase at anytime but you're free to cancel whenever you wish.   Month-to-month plans are not available on all products & services.

It sounds like you or your child joined the Annual plan without reading the terms.

Adobe Subscription and Cancellation Terms | Adobe

buckalewb31917241  wrote We signed our son up for a student account for his class.

That's when you concluded a contract.

Please Contact Customer Care to negotiate your case.

(moving this from Adobe Stock​ to Adobe Creative Cloud​)