Renting but not occupying for DCPS in-boundary residency purposes?

[Anonymous]

Hi. I'm a DC resident, but I'm paying for private school because my in-boundary school is no good and I struck out in the DCPS lottery. I'm considering renting an apartment in-boundary of a good DCPS school, which would be less expensive than what I'm paying for private school, just so we have an in-boundary address. I wouldn't move in. Maybe I would sublet, or AirBNB, if allowed, to recoup some of the rent money, or just leave it empty. Is that sort of thing kosher? It's not like would be lying about my DC residency, I pay plenty of taxes to DC, my conscience is clean.

[Anonymous]

It's not kosher, but you will get away with it. Be prepared to find yourself with some issues when you need to put your address down in the school directory or host playdates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I'm a DC resident, but I'm paying for private school because my in-boundary school is no good and I struck out in the DCPS lottery. I'm considering renting an apartment in-boundary of a good DCPS school, which would be less expensive than what I'm paying for private school, just so we have an in-boundary address. I wouldn't move in. Maybe I would sublet, or AirBNB, if allowed, to recoup some of the rent money, or just leave it empty. Is that sort of thing kosher? It's not like would be lying about my DC residency, I pay plenty of taxes to DC, my conscience is clean.

No. Residency means you live there. DCPS can even do a home check to make sure you and your kids actually live there -- ie, eat and sleep there.

Why have you decided your "conscience is clean" before knowing the rules?

[Anonymous]

What grade is this for? What is the school you are zoned for? I can’t imagine any school being so bad that you are willing to do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What grade is this for? What is the school you are zoned for? I can’t imagine any school being so bad that you are willing to do this?

People have done this for YEARS. It's cheaper than private school, and if you sublet the apartment out to someone else you can break even.

And yes, it violates the spirit of the law.

OSSE has tightened the definition of residency in the last 12 months -- and defined residency as where the child sleeps a majority of the time. So you are running a greater risk with this approach than in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I'm a DC resident, but I'm paying for private school because my in-boundary school is no good and I struck out in the DCPS lottery. I'm considering renting an apartment in-boundary of a good DCPS school, which would be less expensive than what I'm paying for private school, just so we have an in-boundary address. I wouldn't move in. Maybe I would sublet, or AirBNB, if allowed, to recoup some of the rent money, or just leave it empty. Is that sort of thing kosher? It's not like would be lying about my DC residency, I pay plenty of taxes to DC, my conscience is clean.

No. Residency means you live there. DCPS can even do a home check to make sure you and your kids actually live there -- ie, eat and sleep there.

Why have you decided your "conscience is clean" before knowing the rules?

Is there a source for this? Just curious, since I've never heard this before. I know of at least one family at my kid's school who is doing this (i.e., using the address of a property they own, but which only relatives occupy currently).

[Anonymous]

If you're going to do it, I wouldn't worry about your conscience, I'd worry about the possibility of an investigation with a home visit by your school's registrar. With OSSE cracking down, if you come under investigation, you're going to need to produce a stack of residency documents at a few days notice (including certified tax returns) and possibly to clear a home visit by your school's registrar. They're going to want to see your kid(s) stuff in the place, and a bed for the child(ren). If you're on top of things, you'll manage. If can produce the docs, and the apartment has some of your kids stuff in it, family pictures etc., DCPS will be satisfied. Takes work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I'm a DC resident, but I'm paying for private school because my in-boundary school is no good and I struck out in the DCPS lottery. I'm considering renting an apartment in-boundary of a good DCPS school, which would be less expensive than what I'm paying for private school, just so we have an in-boundary address. I wouldn't move in. Maybe I would sublet, or AirBNB, if allowed, to recoup some of the rent money, or just leave it empty. Is that sort of thing kosher? It's not like would be lying about my DC residency, I pay plenty of taxes to DC, my conscience is clean.

No. Residency means you live there. DCPS can even do a home check to make sure you and your kids actually live there -- ie, eat and sleep there.

Why have you decided your "conscience is clean" before knowing the rules?

Is there a source for this? Just curious, since I've never heard this before. I know of at least one family at my kid's school who is doing this (i.e., using the address of a property they own, but which only relatives occupy currently).

They do it if there is a report of suspected boundary fraud to the principal, or if your residency documentation is incomplete or suspect.

But if they have paperwork that looks legitimate, and no one reports the family for boundary fraud, they will probably get away with it.

See something, say something. Or don't complain about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I'm a DC resident, but I'm paying for private school because my in-boundary school is no good and I struck out in the DCPS lottery. I'm considering renting an apartment in-boundary of a good DCPS school, which would be less expensive than what I'm paying for private school, just so we have an in-boundary address. I wouldn't move in. Maybe I would sublet, or AirBNB, if allowed, to recoup some of the rent money, or just leave it empty. Is that sort of thing kosher? It's not like would be lying about my DC residency, I pay plenty of taxes to DC, my conscience is clean.

No. Residency means you live there. DCPS can even do a home check to make sure you and your kids actually live there -- ie, eat and sleep there.

Why have you decided your "conscience is clean" before knowing the rules?

Is there a source for this? Just curious, since I've never heard this before. I know of at least one family at my kid's school who is doing this (i.e., using the address of a property they own, but which only relatives occupy currently).

They do it at Shepherd Elementary.

[Anonymous]

So let me get this straight, all of us who pay rent for small places in the good school zone are chumps? You think you're smart by living in your big house in Petworth or Brookland where the school suck but want to crown our schools? You are really something!!!

Either move your ass to the boundary where your kids will go to school, or apply to a charter or pay for private. No, this is definitely not ok and your conscience should not be clear.

A mom of kids who live crammed in a 2 bedroom so they can go to a better school because education matters to us.

[Anonymous]

Why not just move? That's what we did. It's a pain in the neck, but it's less complicated and is legal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're going to do it, I wouldn't worry about your conscience, I'd worry about the possibility of an investigation with a home visit by your school's registrar. With OSSE cracking down, if you come under investigation, you're going to need to produce a stack of residency documents at a few days notice (including certified tax returns) and possibly to clear a home visit by your school's registrar. They're going to want to see your kid(s) stuff in the place, and a bed for the child(ren). If you're on top of things, you'll manage. If can produce the docs, and the apartment has some of your kids stuff in it, family pictures etc., DCPS will be satisfied. Takes work.

OSSE doesn't care about DCPS BOUNDARY fraud. They only audit and monitor DC residency fraud.

Reports of boundary fraud are up to DCPS to investigate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're going to do it, I wouldn't worry about your conscience, I'd worry about the possibility of an investigation with a home visit by your school's registrar. With OSSE cracking down, if you come under investigation, you're going to need to produce a stack of residency documents at a few days notice (including certified tax returns) and possibly to clear a home visit by your school's registrar. They're going to want to see your kid(s) stuff in the place, and a bed for the child(ren). If you're on top of things, you'll manage. If can produce the docs, and the apartment has some of your kids stuff in it, family pictures etc., DCPS will be satisfied. Takes work.

It is not enough to produce the lease to enroll your kids. Our school asks for pay stubs and/or tax records too.

I hope you get caught if you do this. People like you get on my last nerve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight, all of us who pay rent for small places in the good school zone are chumps? You think you're smart by living in your big house in Petworth or Brookland where the school suck but want to crown our schools? You are really something!!!

Either move your ass to the boundary where your kids will go to school, or apply to a charter or pay for private. No, this is definitely not ok and your conscience should not be clear.

A mom of kids who live crammed in a 2 bedroom so they can go to a better school because education matters to us.

+1

OP, you may think you're smart and clever for thinking this up, but those of us who go by the rules think you're a sleazy chump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight, all of us who pay rent for small places in the good school zone are chumps? You think you're smart by living in your big house in Petworth or Brookland where the school suck but want to crown our schools? You are really something!!!

Either move your ass to the boundary where your kids will go to school, or apply to a charter or pay for private. No, this is definitely not ok and your conscience should not be clear.

A mom of kids who live crammed in a 2 bedroom so they can go to a better school because education matters to us.

+1. Do you want people at the target school to like and respect your family?