Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Proof of residency at our charter can be a payroll stub showing DC taxes withheld. Not sure why something like a payroll stub, DC tax form or property tax statement isn't asked for as proof of residency.

It's not just your charter, all schools in DC use same documents. A payroll stub is very easy to cheat. Property taxes don't prove you live at property. The requirement needs to be US or DC tax transcript (not a 1040 you print from turbo tax) but a free transcript from the IRS for all working parents. Of course something else for unemployed. This needs to be done in addition to mid year site visits for anyone called into question. This is now the requirement for college financial aid offices. You either auto populate your IRS info via the fafsa application or you provide IRS tax transcript. This was finally changed at the college level when they realized the amount of fraud being done via turbo tax fake tax returns to fake in state addresses and lower income to qualify for more aid.

Who cares if a parent "lives at property" if they're paying both DC income and property tax? What's the issue there? What does live mean anyway - only the FBI can know where all family members sleep every night. As long as kids enrolled in DCPS or DC Charter have parents who own or rent in a school district, and pay all the relevant taxes and get school mail at an IB address for IB enrollment, no quibble whatsoever. It's the true MD scofflaws who pay zip that I can't stand. School systems can't legally demand tax transcripts, only the IRS can, but they can, and should, demand more documentation than DC does. Tell your ward reps if you want higher documentation standards for IB enrollment, we've done that.

You are absolutely incorrect. If you have a rental prop in DC but reside in PG County, you have to, by law attend school in PG County. The residency is where you live, not where you own property. There is no level of wrong or right lawbreakers. If you break the law, you break the law. If you live in PG County and you pay PG income taxes, you should go to school in PG.

I think a lot of this is actually car registration scofflawing from DC residents. I've lived in a DC neighborhood for 5 years with lots of street parking and very little parking enforcement. Many of my neighbors who have lived there longer than I have have Maryland plates on their cars, probably to save on car insurance and registration. Probably about 40% of residents on my block, many parked on the street, have Maryland plates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Proof of residency at our charter can be a payroll stub showing DC taxes withheld. Not sure why something like a payroll stub, DC tax form or property tax statement isn't asked for as proof of residency.

It's not just your charter, all schools in DC use same documents. A payroll stub is very easy to cheat. Property taxes don't prove you live at property. The requirement needs to be US or DC tax transcript (not a 1040 you print from turbo tax) but a free transcript from the IRS for all working parents. Of course something else for unemployed. This needs to be done in addition to mid year site visits for anyone called into question. This is now the requirement for college financial aid offices. You either auto populate your IRS info via the fafsa application or you provide IRS tax transcript. This was finally changed at the college level when they realized the amount of fraud being done via turbo tax fake tax returns to fake in state addresses and lower income to qualify for more aid.

Who cares if a parent "lives at property" if they're paying both DC income and property tax? What's the issue there? What does live mean anyway - only the FBI can know where all family members sleep every night. As long as kids enrolled in DCPS or DC Charter have parents who own or rent in a school district, and pay all the relevant taxes and get school mail at an IB address for IB enrollment, no quibble whatsoever. It's the true MD scofflaws who pay zip that I can't stand. School systems can't legally demand tax transcripts, only the IRS can, but they can, and should, demand more documentation than DC does. Tell your ward reps if you want higher documentation standards for IB enrollment, we've done that.

21:08 here. An end should be put to all illegal enrollment and fraud. If DCPS really only has 2 people dedicated to auditing (not clear how many the Charter Board has), they should identify and pursue some high profile and egregious cases to scare the be-jesus out of others and hopefully deter others. Maybe offer current year amnesty to those who come forward, etc. I'm thinking South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation approach and a payment plan for future years.

I read about a case in another state in which a mother actually granted formal custody of her children to her mother so they could go to a better school.

Before they start investigating random cars with out of state tags, they should start in house with all the the teachers who have enrolled their children in DCPS while living in MD or VA.

Does anyone make enough money to pay enough taxes to TOTALLY resent paying for two parallel school systems. AND have to pay to educate students from neighboring states -- that actually get the privilege of BEING actual STATES???

If PP is right, an investigation should ensue. Back in the heyday of investigative reporting, this would have been an easy fix because the Washington Post would have been all over it. I sure miss trained reporters with integrity and grit who looked for opportunities to make their careers on great stories that served the common good. Anybody got any contacts at WaPo worth their salt? This would give the education establishment here the kick in the pants it needs to start to take this problem seriously.

Disregard PP. I know there are DC kids going to schools in VA and MD. I do not believe there are nearly as many as there are PG kids sneaking into DC Charters. There are quite a few chaters in DC that would completely go out of business if audits were done.

PP, fine by me. I don't WANT to drive my kid to MD or VA for school. I'd like to be able to get into a nearby charter, thanks. Two wrongs don't make a right.

OP, how about you take back all the DC kids sneaking into MD and VA schools, and we'll take back the handful of our kids who sneak into DC schools? Care to guess which side would come out ahead fiscally?

**correction above you won't have EIC if your only income was SSI

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I am a grandmother living off my social security and I don't pay taxes but I am the guardian. So, what proof is acceptable for my seven grandkids.

Court documents showing legal guardianship for all 7 grandkids. Additionally, if you're getting DC Charter (Medicaid etc), your eligibility letter will suffice just fine (being that they already do residency verification). If not, a copy of SS eligibility letter showing DC address.

However, being that you have 7 grandkids that you care for 100 times to zero, you file taxes every year to get the thousands in earned income credit every year, thus your tax returns will be just fine. Thanks. Next.

Ok, I am a grandmother living off my social security and I don't pay taxes but I am the guardian. So, what proof is acceptable for my seven grandkids.

Dcps should set up an anonymous tipline. I bet a lot of people would use it. I sure would.

Anonymous wrote:Proof of residency at our charter can be a payroll stub showing DC taxes withheld. Not sure why something like a payroll stub, DC tax form or property tax statement isn't asked for as proof of residency.

It's not just your charter, all schools in DC use same documents. A payroll stub is very easy to cheat. Property taxes don't prove you live at property. The requirement needs to be US or DC tax transcript (not a 1040 you print from turbo tax) but a free transcript from the IRS for all working parents. Of course something else for unemployed. This needs to be done in addition to mid year site visits for anyone called into question. This is now the requirement for college financial aid offices. You either auto populate your IRS info via the fafsa application or you provide IRS tax transcript. This was finally changed at the college level when they realized the amount of fraud being done via turbo tax fake tax returns to fake in state addresses and lower income to qualify for more aid.