The real dark dirty secret of Cosa is that a lot of it has to do with the principal discretion. If both principal"s are on board with the decision it will probably go over. I would go and talk to the principal at your school and plead your case to them and let them know that you'd like to do a cosa to stay.

A 2 years ago we asked out pediatrician to draft a letter to support COSA request providing mental health reasons (anxiety of being away from older sibling). Our COSA investigator totally ignored that letter. We had a ton of common sense compelling reasons and got nowhere with that. Investigator did not care about our situation and was no compassionate at all and denied our request. Our 2 appeals were denied as well - our original info was ruled to be not a good enough reason to grant COSA and in appeals we did not disclose new hardships. We were baffled by lack of compassion.

My first instinct would be to see if I could change mailing address to a PO Box and stay without saying anything to the school. But maybe talking with the administration would be a better approach.

Why complicate things?
Ask a parent if you can use their address. If your kid is well adjusted and has many friends, you will be able to find a parent who will consent. After all, you’re moving temporarily to a relative’s house.

Our school was changing based on boundary study/change. That didn't leave the DADT option, and I was told to be prepared to try more than once with the COSA. Ours was approved the first time around, so it's possible. I definitely reached out to the COSA principal (new school) whom I knew from a previous assignment - they were supportive. My understanding is that is the important buy in. I didn't interact with our preferred school's principal, though they obviously knew us from attending. Don't listen to the noise, OP, use factual/practical impacts and play up the emotional importance and stability for your child. Good luck!

IME it depends on the principal and he or she usually has wide latitude in granting COSAs. Our old principal was very generous as the school was not overcrowded.

I would plead your case to your current school. If it was just for 5th you would likely have a stronger shot but in your situation I can see it working out for 4th and 5th. Good tip from school secretary above.

You will need to get the PPW involved and have you classified as "homeless." That will guarantee you your current school. Homeless status will also guarantee you a free bus. -- School Secretary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are really unlikely to grant a cosa. I would just not tell them and have your mail forwarded

Thanks, PP. I've heard of other families getting COSAs (not at this school, necessarily, but others). Can you share a bit more about why you say that? Only asking to better understand - I'm not challenging your assertion.

DP. I was thinking of doing what PP suggests and having mail forwarded, but won't that notify school of the address change?

Probably. You need to over your tracks carefully when committing fraud.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are really unlikely to grant a cosa. I would just not tell them and have your mail forwarded

Thanks, PP. I've heard of other families getting COSAs (not at this school, necessarily, but others). Can you share a bit more about why you say that? Only asking to better understand - I'm not challenging your assertion.

DP. I was thinking of doing what PP suggests and having mail forwarded, but won't that notify school of the address change?

In my experience, you should be able to stay, but you’ll have to be able to get to school with your own transportation. From
What I’ve seen the schools don’t seem to care that you’ve moved once you’re registered for the school. You’ll have to go to the middle school though where your new place is.

Anonymous wrote:Tough love/reality - you are moving to a new living situation and your child will need to go to a new school. You don't get to stay "because you want to." As a pp mentioned, it is better for your child to make new friends in 4th grade at a new ES school so they will already have friends when they get to MS, rather than being a new MS kid.

Exhibit B

Anonymous wrote:Tough loss. Things happen. People go broke and get divorced. Builds character. Help your child make new friends and keep the old. All will be fine. Many kids deal with more and are just fine.

Exhibit A