COSA for overcrowding?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have experience getting a COSA to move from an overcrowded ES to the closest nearby ES that is not overcrowded? In this case it would be a different cluster, but it is just the next closest school. I literally live 1 block from the boundary.

This attorney's website indicates that enrollment could be a factor, so I was interested if anyone knew if this was possible?
http://bachfamilylaw.com/change-of-school-assignment-cosa-in-maryland/

[Anonymous]

Nope. You have to do better than that. They've really cracked down the past 1-2 years and eliminated most of the "standard" allowables. For example, in the past families could fairly easily get a COSA to have a child attend the school assigned to a caregiver or relative that provided childcare, or teachers could have their own children attend the school where they taught. But not anymore (assuming you're talking MCPS).

I have some colleagues that work in the office, and seriously investigated applying for one for my own child (but didn't, after learning that the chance was pretty much nil that I would get it). Enrollment would generally be a factor AGAINST approving a COSA that might otherwise be deemed appropriate, when considered at all. Meaning that it would be more difficult to COSA into an over-enrolled school, but there's no incentive to leave one.

[Anonymous]

Try it and cc the State officials. MCPS is violating state standards and Hogan needs to learn MoCo is at risk for massive flight if the situation isn't addressed soon.

[Anonymous]

What state standards are being violated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try it and cc the State officials. MCPS is violating state standards and Hogan needs to learn MoCo is at risk for massive flight if the situation isn't addressed soon.

What state standards? "Overcrowded" schools do not have larger class sizes, if that's what you're getting at. They just have more classes, and usually, lots of portables. Hogan has shown that he has little concern for what's best for students anyway, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't give a crap if your child's 5th grade classroom is a portable.

[Anonymous]

You may get an ES COSA but forget about Middle and High school. You should just move to Howard county.

[Anonymous]

You know what - you can always try. Nothing lost.

[Anonymous]

No, don't try. You won't get it. This is not something you need to waste another second of your time thinking about.

[Anonymous]

Definitely try-you can argue that the overcrowding will negatively impact your kid.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a specific reason why the overcrowding impacts your kid?

If, for example, you had a kid who used a walker, and going back and forth between the grade level classrooms (outside) and the inside bathroom would be very time consuming. Or a kid with severe environmental allergies, who really can't be outside in certain seasons. I think that might work.

Otherwise, I guess it can't hurt to try. They might award it to you just to balance the schools. I wouldn't be too optimistic though.

[Anonymous]

Just curious what are the two clusters? If you are zoned for woodlin and want RHES they will deny it as many have tried. If you are in RHES and want woodlin they might just let you. Nothing against those schools just using to illustrate a point, if you try what everybody else is trying people are less likely to help, but if you are shooting for some low desirable school they might be more inclined to approve.

[Anonymous]

I know a family who got a cosa for a child that needed a smaller environment due to anxiety. Sad thing about smaller schools is class sizes could be the same or larger, even if overall school size is smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. You have to do better than that. They've really cracked down the past 1-2 years and eliminated most of the "standard" allowables. For example, in the past families could fairly easily get a COSA to have a child attend the school assigned to a caregiver or relative that provided childcare, or teachers could have their own children attend the school where they taught. But not anymore (assuming you're talking MCPS).

I have some colleagues that work in the office, and seriously investigated applying for one for my own child (but didn't, after learning that the chance was pretty much nil that I would get it). Enrollment would generally be a factor AGAINST approving a COSA that might otherwise be deemed appropriate, when considered at all. Meaning that it would be more difficult to COSA into an over-enrolled school, but there's no incentive to leave one.

OP, I totally disagree with this PP.

People say this on DCUM all the time - that you won't get a COSA. There are 5 students in DD's first grade class that have COSAs. Some got them in previous years, but two got them this year. One for child care reasons and one for a sibling issue. One was denied when the mom first applied, but then was given the COSA on appeal.

Also, if you have any friends or family who live in the ES you want to be in, ask around. Often, you can ask if they'll let you do a shared housing, where you just use their address to attend. Again, we have several of those at our school also. They just change a few bills to their family member's address and use that to attend the ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. You have to do better than that. They've really cracked down the past 1-2 years and eliminated most of the "standard" allowables. For example, in the past families could fairly easily get a COSA to have a child attend the school assigned to a caregiver or relative that provided childcare, or teachers could have their own children attend the school where they taught. But not anymore (assuming you're talking MCPS).

I have some colleagues that work in the office, and seriously investigated applying for one for my own child (but didn't, after learning that the chance was pretty much nil that I would get it). Enrollment would generally be a factor AGAINST approving a COSA that might otherwise be deemed appropriate, when considered at all. Meaning that it would be more difficult to COSA into an over-enrolled school, but there's no incentive to leave one.

OP, I totally disagree with this PP.

People say this on DCUM all the time - that you won't get a COSA. There are 5 students in DD's first grade class that have COSAs. Some got them in previous years, but two got them this year. One for child care reasons and one for a sibling issue. One was denied when the mom first applied, but then was given the COSA on appeal.

Also, if you have any friends or family who live in the ES you want to be in, ask around. Often, you can ask if they'll let you do a shared housing, where you just use their address to attend. Again, we have several of those at our school also. They just change a few bills to their family member's address and use that to attend the ES.

Don't listen to this PP. S/he is advocating fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, I totally disagree with this PP.

People say this on DCUM all the time - that you won't get a COSA. There are 5 students in DD's first grade class that have COSAs. Some got them in previous years, but two got them this year. One for child care reasons and one for a sibling issue. One was denied when the mom first applied, but then was given the COSA on appeal.

Also, if you have any friends or family who live in the ES you want to be in, ask around. Often, you can ask if they'll let you do a shared housing, where you just use their address to attend. Again, we have several of those at our school also. They just change a few bills to their family member's address and use that to attend the ES.

Don't listen to this PP. S/he is advocating fraud.

Please. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen ALL. THE. TIME. People do what they think is best for their kids. MCPS has no way of proving where every single kid lives, so it continues to occur in quite a few ESs.

You can say 'not to listen', but OP was looking for options, so I responded. I'm not doing it myself, so don't get mad at me. Just commenting that it does go on and it can be an option for people willing to try it.