Boundary fraud: does anyone care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it helps you feel better, OP, poor families do it as much, and probably more, than UMC ones. Residency fraud is rampant in DC because we have such close neighbors and porous borders, and not just in schools.

Boundary fraud is completely different from residency fraud.

Yeah, except people do both. UMC use a condo or investment property, lower class use a friend or relative. If you’re going to take a stand, then do it consistently.

If someone pays taxes in DC and owns/rents multiple residences in DC, I have no problem with them picking one as their IB school. I also don’t have a problem with a DC resident who uses a DC family member caretaker (grandma/grandpa)‘s address for an IB address. I think residency fraud is different hill of beans.

[Anonymous]

My kid had a friend in PK4 las year who allegedly lived on our one block street. Uhm, no. Turns out his grandmother does, but she is absolutely not his caretaker and I have literally never seen him on our street. I don’t know if it’s residency or boundary fraud in their case, because I don’t know where they really live.

At our old PK3 school (an EA school, so not knocking out any IBers to be fair), the teacher flat out told me that two kids were starting K in MD, so it’s not like she didn’t know about the residency cheating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it helps you feel better, OP, poor families do it as much, and probably more, than UMC ones. Residency fraud is rampant in DC because we have such close neighbors and porous borders, and not just in schools.

Boundary fraud is completely different from residency fraud.

Yeah, except people do both. UMC use a condo or investment property, lower class use a friend or relative. If you’re going to take a stand, then do it consistently.

If someone pays taxes in DC and owns/rents multiple residences in DC, I have no problem with them picking one as their IB school. I also don’t have a problem with a DC resident who uses a DC family member caretaker (grandma/grandpa)‘s address for an IB address. I think residency fraud is different hill of beans.

Well, unfortunately for you, that's not a distinction you are entitled to make. Residency fraud and boundary fraud may be different, but they both violate DCPS policy and should be treated as equally as such.

If all DCPS schools were equally well staffed and funded, maybe the district (and people like me) would have no problem with a family choosing which residence to use for there IB. But they aren't, not even close. Boundary fraud is no different than the scandals we've seen where officials bypass the lottery to get their kids into sought after schools. The only difference is the prominence of the offender. Either way, you are violating the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it helps you feel better, OP, poor families do it as much, and probably more, than UMC ones. Residency fraud is rampant in DC because we have such close neighbors and porous borders, and not just in schools.

Boundary fraud is completely different from residency fraud.

Yeah, except people do both. UMC use a condo or investment property, lower class use a friend or relative. If you’re going to take a stand, then do it consistently.

If someone pays taxes in DC and owns/rents multiple residences in DC, I have no problem with them picking one as their IB school. I also don’t have a problem with a DC resident who uses a DC family member caretaker (grandma/grandpa)‘s address for an IB address. I think residency fraud is different hill of beans.

Well, unfortunately for you, that's not a distinction you are entitled to make. Residency fraud and boundary fraud may be different, but they both violate DCPS policy and should be treated as equally as such.

If all DCPS schools were equally well staffed and funded, maybe the district (and people like me) would have no problem with a family choosing which residence to use for there IB. But they aren't, not even close. Boundary fraud is no different than the scandals we've seen where officials bypass the lottery to get their kids into sought after schools. The only difference is the prominence of the offender. Either way, you are violating the rules.

They are very different actually. Residency fraud can result in arrest and big tuition bills. That’s not the case with boundary issues that involve DC residents. OP, for all you know, the principal is already aware. Plus during this particular time when kids might be logging onto their virtual classroom from literally anywhere I can guarantee that complaints about boundary cheaters will be very low priority. But do whatever you must.

[Anonymous]

Get a life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid had a friend in PK4 las year who allegedly lived on our one block street. Uhm, no. Turns out his grandmother does, but she is absolutely not his caretaker and I have literally never seen him on our street. I don’t know if it’s residency or boundary fraud in their case, because I don’t know where they really live.

At our old PK3 school (an EA school, so not knocking out any IBers to be fair), the teacher flat out told me that two kids were starting K in MD, so it’s not like she didn’t know about the residency cheating.

But are you sure this child’s parents aren’t divorced with one in DC and one in Maryland? Or maybe they are moving? Both these situations happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it helps you feel better, OP, poor families do it as much, and probably more, than UMC ones. Residency fraud is rampant in DC because we have such close neighbors and porous borders, and not just in schools.

Boundary fraud is completely different from residency fraud.

Yeah, except people do both. UMC use a condo or investment property, lower class use a friend or relative. If you’re going to take a stand, then do it consistently.

If someone pays taxes in DC and owns/rents multiple residences in DC, I have no problem with them picking one as their IB school. I also don’t have a problem with a DC resident who uses a DC family member caretaker (grandma/grandpa)‘s address for an IB address. I think residency fraud is different hill of beans.

Well, unfortunately for you, that's not a distinction you are entitled to make. Residency fraud and boundary fraud may be different, but they both violate DCPS policy and should be treated as equally as such.

If all DCPS schools were equally well staffed and funded, maybe the district (and people like me) would have no problem with a family choosing which residence to use for there IB. But they aren't, not even close. Boundary fraud is no different than the scandals we've seen where officials bypass the lottery to get their kids into sought after schools. The only difference is the prominence of the offender. Either way, you are violating the rules.

OK, so report alleged offenders via the tips hotline. Fact is, you don't get to decide who's violating the rules. The reality is that if a family owns multiple DC properties, is paid up on their DC tax and isn't obviously renting out either property, OSSE doesn't give a hoot. Pretty clearly, they've got their hands full identifying and busting residency fraudsters who don't pay DC tax. If you don't like this, lobby the politicians for "the rules" to be more strictly enforced. Don't come here bitching about parents violating the rules. It's a pointless exercise.

[Anonymous]

I see why you are annoyed, but I would not get involved

[Anonymous]

Also, if word of enforcement gets out, it just highlights the fact that some DC schools are better/more desirable than others, and where you live has a substantial impact on the quality (however defined) of your child's education. Which is obvious to everyone and the reality of the world, but not something that OSSE wants to shine a spotlight on. The PR of this is a lot less cut and dried than enforcing residency fraud.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP above.

OSSE doesn't want to shine a spotlight on the chasm between test scores and the quality of facilities, enrichment offerings, services for students and teaching staff between the highest and lowest-performing DCPS schools. Principals and school registrars occasionally get OSSE on board with going at blatant boundary cheaters who win in ECE lotteries, but that's about it.

We were investigated for boundary fraud a few years ago and cleared. The investigation process was straightforward, efficient and fair. We wound up being glad we went through it because it squelched a few rumor-mongering PTA busybodies who were wrong about our complicated residency situation.

[Anonymous]

It’s dead wrong, OP. Report it. Nothing may happen, but do what you can. It’s stealing and it’s infuriating. Cheaters, especially wealthy ones, should not get away with it.

[Anonymous]

I think DC cares...a few years ago they sued 7 individuals and sought 700,000 in back tuition. You can go to DC schools, if there is space, as an out of boundary student - you just have to pay. Same thing happens in MoCo and it is maddening.

https://www.google.de/amp/s/www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-attorney-general-sues-seven-adults-for-residency-fraud-seeks-over-700000/139550/%3famp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think DC cares...a few years ago they sued 7 individuals and sought 700,000 in back tuition. You can go to DC schools, if there is space, as an out of boundary student - you just have to pay. Same thing happens in MoCo and it is maddening.

https://www.google.de/amp/s/www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-attorney-general-sues-seven-adults-for-residency-fraud-seeks-over-700000/139550/%3famp

This is residency fraud, not boundary fraud.

[Anonymous]

You have too much time on your hands. If they own the place they're renting out in DC they pay DC taxes and are, like you, funding the schools.

[Anonymous]

+100. Focus on your own children.