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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm an AA parent who recently purchased in DC, in a Deal/Wilson-zoned neighborhood.  I know of a couple cases like this (i.e., possible residency fraud due to using relatives' addresses when child lives elsewhere in DC), although I don't know of any families that live in MD.  I would not report them since I don't know the family situation with certainty, and also not really my thing.  I do, however, think the bar for proving residency should be higher, given how prevalent this seems to be.

I definitely think this should be investigated by OSSE when warranted, and don't think it's racist to do so.  There are many parents in DC, including many AA families, who play by the rules, and as a result are often relegated to waitlists, sometimes even when they live in the neighborhood (in the case of PK3/4).

That said, this is a poorly written article, and it doesn't really seem to be written in an objective way.  Further, I think some of the tactics used in this story, while perhaps legal, are distasteful: "A dozen people with Maryland tags all of went directly to Maryland after picking up their kids. Reporters also observed that the mothers and children stayed there overnight."  Were they camping out overnight outside of people's homes?

Finally, what paper is this?  I've never heard of it.  It looks to be a conservative paper, given the featured columns by Ann Coulter, the 'Guns' section, and the pro-Trump articles on the landing page.  This makes me question the motives of the journalist even more.
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You make a good point.  Every residence fraud case robs some deserving DC kid of a coveted spot in a better school, or at least diverts scarce funding resources that otherwise could have gone for a science teacher, tutors, library books and after school programs.

The journalist may or may not be Walter Cronkite, but the story is important.  Exposing theft of public services is motive enough.  [b]For example, I don't agree at all with the Wall St Journal's conservative editorials, but I acknowledge that the paper covers important stories.[/b][/quote]

PP here.  Okay, point taken.

I wonder if DCPS/DCPCS could do something like launch a public campaign to discourage cheaters--e.g., media campaign stating that beginning 2017-2018 school year, school families will be subject to random [b]checks[/b] to confirm residency, and that those found to be committing residency fraud will have to immediately unenroll.  If such a campaign could be launched far in advance--maybe even sending notes home in backpacks--perhaps that would in effect put these families on notice so that they are more likely to enroll in their own schools in time for the start of the next school year.  Just a thought--not sure what the best strategy would be.[/quote]

I meant to specify home visits as checks to confirm residency.  And it would have to be completely random, so that these audits won't be accused of targeting families that are low SES, etc.[/quote]

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