Can MD residents enter DC charter lottery?

[Anonymous]

This may be a dumb question, but - can I enter the DC charter lottery as a MD resident?

Would move back to DC if we got a good spot somewhere.

If it makes a difference, own a condo in DC that we rent out.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Can you provide a cite for that? This reference to non-resident students is what lead me ask:

According to the School Reform Act (Sec 38-1802.06), enrollment in public charter schools is open to all students who are residents of the District of Columbia, and if space is available, to non-resident students who pay tuition at the rate established by the State Education Agency. A public charter school may not limit enrollment based on students' race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability.

http://www.dcpcsb.org/Enrolling-Your-Child/Enrollment-and-Lottery-Guidelines.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. Can you provide a cite for that? This reference to non-resident students is what lead me ask:

According to the School Reform Act (Sec 38-1802.06), enrollment in public charter schools is open to all students who are residents of the District of Columbia, and if space is available, to non-resident students who pay tuition at the rate established by the State Education Agency. A public charter school may not limit enrollment based on students' race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability.

http://www.dcpcsb.org/Enrolling-Your-Child/Enrollment-and-Lottery-Guidelines.aspx

You're reaching, OP. The operative words are "if space is available." You have to be a resident to enter a lottery in the first place. Once the lottery shakes out, if there are any vacancies, non-residents can apply for admission and pay tuition. But, really, how likely is it that there will be vacancies?

Shorter me: The lottery is limited to DC residents. Non-residents get the leftovers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

Ignore the PP, OP.

There is no rule that stipulates that lottery applicants be DC residents at the time of the lottery

You can enter the lottery using your MD address, but it is unlikely you will get spot. Even if you do, there is a chance that the DC residents who apply to the school after the lottery cut-off will be admitted before you are.

Instead, enter the lottery using the address of your DC rental property. If you get a spot, you will have to move back to DC before the cut-off date for residency verification. If you decide not to move back into your rental property, you can use your new DC address to prove residency.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, 9:43! Super helpful. That's exactly what I was envisioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

Ignore the PP, OP.

There is no rule that stipulates that lottery applicants be DC residents at the time of the lottery

You can enter the lottery using your MD address, but it is unlikely you will get spot. Even if you do, there is a chance that the DC residents who apply to the school after the lottery cut-off will be admitted before you are.

Instead, enter the lottery using the address of your DC rental property. If you get a spot, you will have to move back to DC before the cut-off date for residency verification. If you decide not to move back into your rental property, you can use your new DC address to prove residency.

You are utterly full of crap. Every charter I applied to required that I provide a DC address AND proof of residency. Bottom line OP is that DC public charter schools are for the children of DC residents. Sorry. If you don't like it, move to DC.

[Anonymous]

And, non-residents can attend if they pay the tuition cost.

[Anonymous]

You don't need to provide proof of residency at the time of application, at least not at the 10-15 charters that I have applied to over the past couple of years. You do need a DC address to put on your application. Of course, if she gets offered a spot and chooses to enroll, she will need to move and provide proof of residency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

Ignore the PP, OP.

There is no rule that stipulates that lottery applicants be DC residents at the time of the lottery

You can enter the lottery using your MD address, but it is unlikely you will get spot. Even if you do, there is a chance that the DC residents who apply to the school after the lottery cut-off will be admitted before you are.

Instead, enter the lottery using the address of your DC rental property. If you get a spot, you will have to move back to DC before the cut-off date for residency verification. If you decide not to move back into your rental property, you can use your new DC address to prove residency.

You are utterly full of crap. Every charter I applied to required that I provide a DC address AND proof of residency. Bottom line OP is that DC public charter schools are for the children of DC residents. Sorry. If you don't like it, move to DC.

And enforcement of this is increasing. Especially at the more in-demand charters. If you do not apply with your true current address, get in on a DC address (even if you own it), and anyone (the school, other parents) find out you were not honest, the school has the right to yank your kid immediately. Some schools react much faster than others, but they all have the right to react.

Either move back to DC or apply with your MD addy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And, non-residents can attend if they pay the tuition cost.

Sure they can. . .for spots that are not and will not be available. Show me one reputable charter that hasn't had a waiting list of actual DC residents in recent years. I dare you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This may be a dumb question, but - can I enter the DC charter lottery as a MD resident?

Would move back to DC if we got a good spot somewhere.

If it makes a difference, own a condo in DC that we rent out.

OP, you're going to get a lot of hate on this thread because basically the group most hated on this cite are "residency cheaters".

Personally, I do not see your question as being that much different from someone who is inquiring about the lottery process when moving from out of state. It's complicated, but made easier by the fact that you already have an address you could use for the application forms. That address will not be checked up on until enrollment - at least in my experience, the popular DC charters do not check until then.

The only caveat is that to avoid being a cheater, hated by everyone, you have to actually move if your kid gets in. If you stay in Maryland, you risk a lot, and most of the consequences will fall on your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And, non-residents can attend if they pay the tuition cost.

But you have to get in first!! There are thousands who live in DC who don't get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

Ignore the PP, OP.

There is no rule that stipulates that lottery applicants be DC residents at the time of the lottery

You can enter the lottery using your MD address, but it is unlikely you will get spot. Even if you do, there is a chance that the DC residents who apply to the school after the lottery cut-off will be admitted before you are.

Instead, enter the lottery using the address of your DC rental property. If you get a spot, you will have to move back to DC before the cut-off date for residency verification. If you decide not to move back into your rental property, you can use your new DC address to prove residency.

You are utterly full of crap. Every charter I applied to required that I provide a DC address AND proof of residency. Bottom line OP is that DC public charter schools are for the children of DC residents. Sorry. If you don't like it, move to DC.

Nonsense. No charter that we've applied to required proof of residency to enter the lottery. Proof of residency was only needed when we were offered a decided to accept a spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

Ignore the PP, OP.

There is no rule that stipulates that lottery applicants be DC residents at the time of the lottery

You can enter the lottery using your MD address, but it is unlikely you will get spot. Even if you do, there is a chance that the DC residents who apply to the school after the lottery cut-off will be admitted before you are.

Instead, enter the lottery using the address of your DC rental property. If you get a spot, you will have to move back to DC before the cut-off date for residency verification. If you decide not to move back into your rental property, you can use your new DC address to prove residency.

You are utterly full of crap. Every charter I applied to required that I provide a DC address AND proof of residency. Bottom line OP is that DC public charter schools are for the children of DC residents. Sorry. If you don't like it, move to DC.

Nonsense. No charter that we've applied to required proof of residency to enter the lottery. Proof of residency was only needed when we were offered a decided to accept a spot.

Wow. People like you amaze me. Every single charter application requires you to sign something that basically says "I am telling the truth on this form" (I.e. "I swear that all the information on this form is true". While it's true that at the time of application no school is going to show up at your DC addy to verify residency, you are swearing that the address you apply with IS WHERE YOU AND YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY LIVE.

What is so hard to grasp about that? If you put down a DC rental address that you don't live at, you're lying. And if the school finds out, you can I lose your child's spot.

I know the world is full of people cheating and lying, at all levels of society, but it still stuns me how cavalier people like PP are about lying on forms. Don't be a residency cheater and end up at my charter... Because we DO pursue enforcement of residency rules against families who take spots from DC kids.