Sounds like enrollment and residency is beeing investigated more aggressively

[Anonymous]

15:05, the sad thing is that the elementary school level is the small percentage of violators. The largest portion of violators are at your middle and high-school who are able to manuever the metro system. It amazes me the students who are living in counties all-around this DMV and attend DCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if I sound naive, but I don't think it should be that hard to find out-of-state scofflaws. Last month I read an article in the NY Times about how a Hartford, CT district was doing it. Someone, a parent perhaps?, reported that they suspected that a student didn't live in the school district after spotting NY plates when the student was dropped off. A school official went to the student's address of record to check. Done. That's it. Why can't DC do that?

They probably can, but that would mean the school official would need to have the view that this is a bad thing. Ahem, a principal's school funding comes from how many students they have, so in order to fill the school and get money, they could care less where the student comes from. They also probably feel this attitude is perfectly fine as it stems from a sense of entitlement from a certain sub-culture in dc. Yes, I'm purposely avoiding using a certain card so I don't have to duck that far under my desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go back to Oakton, sweetie.

+1

[Anonymous]

It can't just be a pay stub showing DC withholding. If a person lives in Petworth, they are already paying DC taxes. Yet they can go to their online HR site and change their mailing address to Janey inbound address and BAM they're IB! DC tax returns would be the best as people are less likely to lie about address on their tax returns. If they just moved IB, then HUD1 or lease (can be doctored) would need to be provided in addition to school personally doing a residency check in 1st quarter for those.

[Anonymous]

It can't just be a pay stub showing DC withholding. If a person lives in Petworth, they are already paying DC taxes. Yet they can go to their online HR site and change their mailing address to Janey inbound address and BAM they're IB! DC tax returns would be the best as people are less likely to lie about address on their tax returns. If they just moved IB, then HUD1 or lease (can be doctored) would need to be provided in addition to school personally doing a residency check in 1st quarter for those.

Explain to me why the person living in petworth would be cheating if they were attending Janey OOB? Are you paying a special fee to allow your child to go to Janney if you are living IB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Explain to me why the person living in petworth would be cheating if they were attending Janey OOB? Are you paying a special fee to allow your child to go to Janney if you are living IB?

I think PP confuses two different but equally contentious issues. Non DC residents attending DC schools (public and charter) and residency verification to determine school boundary status. But the discussion here revolves around the out of state problem. I imagine the audit doing both (i.e. looking at the DC tax withheld line on the pay stub as well as at the address).
I concur that this is not something the school itself can be trusted with. With or without ill will, actual verification is just not a priority for them. I've seen our otherwise wonderfully run school start to worry about in state/out of state matters only when a student is a burden in many other ways (attendance, achievement, discipline) and can't blame them for it knowing what there is otherwise nothing in it for them to get rid of a student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if I sound naive, but I don't think it should be that hard to find out-of-state scofflaws. Last month I read an article in the NY Times about how a Hartford, CT district was doing it. Someone, a parent perhaps?, reported that they suspected that a student didn't live in the school district after spotting NY plates when the student was dropped off. A school official went to the student's address of record to check. Done. That's it. Why can't DC do that?

They probably can, but that would mean the school official would need to have the view that this is a bad thing. Ahem, a principal's school funding comes from how many students they have, so in order to fill the school and get money, they could care less where the student comes from. They also probably feel this attitude is perfectly fine as it stems from a sense of entitlement from a certain sub-culture in dc. Yes, I'm purposely avoiding using a certain card so I don't have to duck that far under my desk.

Some of the MD plates are spotted at desirable schools that wouldn't have a problem filling seats since they have wait lists. Those principals couldn't possibly think that they'd lose money since the seat would be happily filled by a DC resident's child. Not following up with something as simple as having someone designated to go to the house to check on residency seems plain lazy. I still think that this problem won't be addressed until DC parents hold politicians' feet to the fire on this one. I'll vote for the candidate who does something about this.

[Anonymous]

I think it's laziness and unwillingness to disturb the kids. I think some of the principals see their mission as one to educate and care for kids with a blind eye to which kids. It's hard to think about kicking out a sweet little three-year-old who otherwise might be in some wretched daycare center.

Not that this is right, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think PP confuses two different but equally contentious issues. Non DC residents attending DC schools (public and charter) and residency verification to determine school boundary status. But the discussion here revolves around the out of state problem. I imagine the audit doing both (i.e. looking at the DC tax withheld line on the pay stub as well as at the address)

Good point, and there seems to be a lot of finger pointing about oob students at some in demand DCPS schools. For example, Janney's lack of oob students in lower grades is a great source of pride to its parent community. They're territorial about preserving primarily ib student population, and considering they 'recommend' a donation in excess of $500/student to fully fund their PTA budget (they'll gladly accept more btw), it's not surprising they'd like to keep a pool of families that can support the bells and whistles.

the non-DC resident issue seems most pronounced at charters where there is insufficient oversight, but I hear at least anecdotally of some DCPS schools being magnets for out of state address cheats. Why DCPS you may ask? It may be a better option than the out of state public option and more convenient for the parents, especially in younger grades. It might also include early childhood, which is like free daycare to those who do not reside in DC.

[Anonymous]

if anyone is interested:

Student Residency Fraud Prevention Hotline
Making sure every seat is accounted for.
Call: [phone] if you have information that a non-District resident is receiving District-funded public education free of charge.
Penalties for Providing False Residency Information: Any person, including any District of Columbia public school or public charter school official, who knowingly supplies false information to a public official in connection with student residency verification shall be subject to charges of tuition retroactively, and payment of a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, but not both fine and imprisonment, pursuant to the District of Columbia Nonresident Tuition Act as amended by the District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter School Student Residency Fraud Prevention Amendment Act of 2012.
This is a confidential hotline. Information can be provided anonymously!

[Anonymous]

Remember all the students you might lose doesn't mean you will gain them back with a meighborhood enrollee. There's a lengthy process that's in the favor of the accused. The appeal process is a monster; the continuancy allowance can go on for years. By the time ceryain rulings were handed down the child has graduated from DCPS.

We are a city of lawyers and this hasn't become a cash cow, wonder why? It ain't worth it.

[Anonymous]

Great news!! it is about time. Now maybe DC kids can actually get into these good quality public and charter schools. Besides, I pay enough taxes.

[Anonymous]

^^True! I live near a sought-after NW school and I see MD plates at drop off/pick up all the time. I didn't know about the fraud prevention number, but I won't have a problem using it now. It's not fair that DC residents can't get into this school because MD residents are enrolling their kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember all the students you might lose doesn't mean you will gain them back with a meighborhood enrollee. There's a lengthy process that's in the favor of the accused. The appeal process is a monster; the continuancy allowance can go on for years. By the time ceryain rulings were handed down the child has graduated from DCPS.

We are a city of lawyers and this hasn't become a cash cow, wonder why? It ain't worth it.

it might be a lenghty process but if you make the cheaters pay tuition for the months-years they have unlawfully be in DCPS that would discourage them from dragging things on, and maybe even from cheating. now if they are caught they are simply asked to leave the school. DCPS just need to catch a few cheaters and charge them all the back tuition (and get the money) and make them an example.

[Anonymous]

If caught you are given options and believe me DCPS is far more wikling to work with those who are remorseful.