Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

I'm the one who posted the cool compilation, and I disagree with your take on it. What I see is that residency fraud at DCPS a problem that's been reported on for many years now. Despite any efforts DCPS has taken to address residency fraud, lots of people are still doing it.

I actually appreciate the Daily Caller series as an example of shoe-leather investigative journalism that doesn't happen much anymore. Few reporters seem to have the time and desire to spend the time and effort to physically check out the on-the-ground situation. Most would rather simply research online and make phone calls. The Daily Caller duo actually went out there an did their own investigation. No, their finished product wasn't as polished and pretty as the Post's, but it's still solid journalism. I think it takes a new angle on the basic story the Post has been telling for years.

There seem to be lots of fraud-apologists on this thread who are trying to toss dirt on the Daily Caller series. I disagree with lots of Daily Caller's slant on political topics, but this series seems accurate. It's hitting the same theme that the Post has hit many times before. No one claimed the Post coverage was biased, so it seems hypocritical and unfair to suddenly call the Daily Caller series biased.

The bottom line - as demonstrated many times by the Post, other news outlets, DCPS's own audits, and the Daily Caller series - is that DCPS has an ongoing problem with residency fraud. It's tough to stop people from cheating the system. It's even tougher when some people within DCPS and OSSE seem to be ignoring the fraud. It's especially frustrating when there's evidence that people within DCPS, OSSE, or other parts of DC government are taking part in the fraud themselves.

Something needs to be done about this. People here ought to push the issue with their local schools and with their elected representatives. People here ought to help out by reporting suspected cheaters, so OSSE can efficiently conduct the investigations we're paying it to do.

Well sorry, your post had the opposite effect on me. It seems clear that DC is already commited (through audits and some high profile prosecutions) to adequately address this issue. People who are obsessed with it have some other bee really in their bonnets ...

Given the apparent scope of the residency fraud and the fact that some aren't too bothered by it, it hardly seems that DC is committed to addressing this through adequate investigatory resources and follow up. Incentives are needed as well, such as one suggestion that is apparently followed by some other school districts, that a school lose some additional percentage (e.g., 200% ) of the per pupil allocation for each fraud case discovered. That would nicely incentivize school principals and administrative staff to share accountability for addressing the problem.

DCPS's boast that DCPS growth has increased would be negatively impacted by kicking all the cheaters out, heck some schools would lose so many kids it wouldn't be funny. Partly why DCPS turns a blind and lazy eye to this!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

I'm the one who posted the cool compilation, and I disagree with your take on it. What I see is that residency fraud at DCPS a problem that's been reported on for many years now. Despite any efforts DCPS has taken to address residency fraud, lots of people are still doing it.

I actually appreciate the Daily Caller series as an example of shoe-leather investigative journalism that doesn't happen much anymore. Few reporters seem to have the time and desire to spend the time and effort to physically check out the on-the-ground situation. Most would rather simply research online and make phone calls. The Daily Caller duo actually went out there an did their own investigation. No, their finished product wasn't as polished and pretty as the Post's, but it's still solid journalism. I think it takes a new angle on the basic story the Post has been telling for years.

There seem to be lots of fraud-apologists on this thread who are trying to toss dirt on the Daily Caller series. I disagree with lots of Daily Caller's slant on political topics, but this series seems accurate. It's hitting the same theme that the Post has hit many times before. No one claimed the Post coverage was biased, so it seems hypocritical and unfair to suddenly call the Daily Caller series biased.

The bottom line - as demonstrated many times by the Post, other news outlets, DCPS's own audits, and the Daily Caller series - is that DCPS has an ongoing problem with residency fraud. It's tough to stop people from cheating the system. It's even tougher when some people within DCPS and OSSE seem to be ignoring the fraud. It's especially frustrating when there's evidence that people within DCPS, OSSE, or other parts of DC government are taking part in the fraud themselves.

Something needs to be done about this. People here ought to push the issue with their local schools and with their elected representatives. People here ought to help out by reporting suspected cheaters, so OSSE can efficiently conduct the investigations we're paying it to do.

Well sorry, your post had the opposite effect on me. It seems clear that DC is already commited (through audits and some high profile prosecutions) to adequately address this issue. People who are obsessed with it have some other bee really in their bonnets ...

Given the apparent scope of the residency fraud and the fact that some aren't too bothered by it, it hardly seems that DC is committed to addressing this through adequate investigatory resources and follow up. Incentives are needed as well, such as one suggestion that is apparently followed by some other school districts, that a school lose some additional percentage (e.g., 200% ) of the per pupil allocation for each fraud case discovered. That would nicely incentivize school principals and administrative staff to share accountability for addressing the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

I'm the one who posted the cool compilation, and I disagree with your take on it. What I see is that residency fraud at DCPS a problem that's been reported on for many years now. Despite any efforts DCPS has taken to address residency fraud, lots of people are still doing it.

I actually appreciate the Daily Caller series as an example of shoe-leather investigative journalism that doesn't happen much anymore. Few reporters seem to have the time and desire to spend the time and effort to physically check out the on-the-ground situation. Most would rather simply research online and make phone calls. The Daily Caller duo actually went out there an did their own investigation. No, their finished product wasn't as polished and pretty as the Post's, but it's still solid journalism. I think it takes a new angle on the basic story the Post has been telling for years.

There seem to be lots of fraud-apologists on this thread who are trying to toss dirt on the Daily Caller series. I disagree with lots of Daily Caller's slant on political topics, but this series seems accurate. It's hitting the same theme that the Post has hit many times before. No one claimed the Post coverage was biased, so it seems hypocritical and unfair to suddenly call the Daily Caller series biased.

The bottom line - as demonstrated many times by the Post, other news outlets, DCPS's own audits, and the Daily Caller series - is that DCPS has an ongoing problem with residency fraud. It's tough to stop people from cheating the system. It's even tougher when some people within DCPS and OSSE seem to be ignoring the fraud. It's especially frustrating when there's evidence that people within DCPS, OSSE, or other parts of DC government are taking part in the fraud themselves.

Something needs to be done about this. People here ought to push the issue with their local schools and with their elected representatives. People here ought to help out by reporting suspected cheaters, so OSSE can efficiently conduct the investigations we're paying it to do.

Well sorry, your post had the opposite effect on me. It seems clear that DC is already commited (through audits and some high profile prosecutions) to adequately address this issue. People who are obsessed with it have some other bee really in their bonnets ...

Given the apparent scope of the residency fraud and the fact that some aren't too bothered by it, it hardly seems that DC is committed to addressing this through adequate investigatory resources and follow up. Incentives are needed as well, such as one suggestion that is apparently followed by some other school districts, that a school lose some additional percentage (e.g., 200% ) of the per pupil allocation for each fraud case discovered. That would nicely incentivize school principals and administrative staff to share accountability for addressing the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

I'm the one who posted the cool compilation, and I disagree with your take on it. What I see is that residency fraud at DCPS a problem that's been reported on for many years now. Despite any efforts DCPS has taken to address residency fraud, lots of people are still doing it.

I actually appreciate the Daily Caller series as an example of shoe-leather investigative journalism that doesn't happen much anymore. Few reporters seem to have the time and desire to spend the time and effort to physically check out the on-the-ground situation. Most would rather simply research online and make phone calls. The Daily Caller duo actually went out there an did their own investigation. No, their finished product wasn't as polished and pretty as the Post's, but it's still solid journalism. I think it takes a new angle on the basic story the Post has been telling for years.

There seem to be lots of fraud-apologists on this thread who are trying to toss dirt on the Daily Caller series. I disagree with lots of Daily Caller's slant on political topics, but this series seems accurate. It's hitting the same theme that the Post has hit many times before. No one claimed the Post coverage was biased, so it seems hypocritical and unfair to suddenly call the Daily Caller series biased.

The bottom line - as demonstrated many times by the Post, other news outlets, DCPS's own audits, and the Daily Caller series - is that DCPS has an ongoing problem with residency fraud. It's tough to stop people from cheating the system. It's even tougher when some people within DCPS and OSSE seem to be ignoring the fraud. It's especially frustrating when there's evidence that people within DCPS, OSSE, or other parts of DC government are taking part in the fraud themselves.

Something needs to be done about this. People here ought to push the issue with their local schools and with their elected representatives. People here ought to help out by reporting suspected cheaters, so OSSE can efficiently conduct the investigations we're paying it to do.

Well sorry, your post had the opposite effect on me. It seems clear that DC is already commited (through audits and some high profile prosecutions) to adequately address this issue. People who are obsessed with it have some other bee really in their bonnets ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

I'm the one who posted the cool compilation, and I disagree with your take on it. What I see is that residency fraud at DCPS a problem that's been reported on for many years now. Despite any efforts DCPS has taken to address residency fraud, lots of people are still doing it.

I actually appreciate the Daily Caller series as an example of shoe-leather investigative journalism that doesn't happen much anymore. Few reporters seem to have the time and desire to spend the time and effort to physically check out the on-the-ground situation. Most would rather simply research online and make phone calls. The Daily Caller duo actually went out there an did their own investigation. No, their finished product wasn't as polished and pretty as the Post's, but it's still solid journalism. I think it takes a new angle on the basic story the Post has been telling for years.

There seem to be lots of fraud-apologists on this thread who are trying to toss dirt on the Daily Caller series. I disagree with lots of Daily Caller's slant on political topics, but this series seems accurate. It's hitting the same theme that the Post has hit many times before. No one claimed the Post coverage was biased, so it seems hypocritical and unfair to suddenly call the Daily Caller series biased.

The bottom line - as demonstrated many times by the Post, other news outlets, DCPS's own audits, and the Daily Caller series - is that DCPS has an ongoing problem with residency fraud. It's tough to stop people from cheating the system. It's even tougher when some people within DCPS and OSSE seem to be ignoring the fraud. It's especially frustrating when there's evidence that people within DCPS, OSSE, or other parts of DC government are taking part in the fraud themselves.

Something needs to be done about this. People here ought to push the issue with their local schools and with their elected representatives. People here ought to help out by reporting suspected cheaters, so OSSE can efficiently conduct the investigations we're paying it to do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

I'm the one who posted the cool compilation, and I disagree with your take on it. What I see is that residency fraud at DCPS a problem that's been reported on for many years now. Despite any efforts DCPS has taken to address residency fraud, lots of people are still doing it.

I actually appreciate the Daily Caller series as an example of shoe-leather investigative journalism that doesn't happen much anymore. Few reporters seem to have the time and desire to spend the time and effort to physically check out the on-the-ground situation. Most would rather simply research online and make phone calls. The Daily Caller duo actually went out there an did their own investigation. No, their finished product wasn't as polished and pretty as the Post's, but it's still solid journalism. I think it takes a new angle on the basic story the Post has been telling for years.

There seem to be lots of fraud-apologists on this thread who are trying to toss dirt on the Daily Caller series. I disagree with lots of Daily Caller's slant on political topics, but this series seems accurate. It's hitting the same theme that the Post has hit many times before. No one claimed the Post coverage was biased, so it seems hypocritical and unfair to suddenly call the Daily Caller series biased.

The bottom line - as demonstrated many times by the Post, other news outlets, DCPS's own audits, and the Daily Caller series - is that DCPS has an ongoing problem with residency fraud. It's tough to stop people from cheating the system. It's even tougher when some people within DCPS and OSSE seem to be ignoring the fraud. It's especially frustrating when there's evidence that people within DCPS, OSSE, or other parts of DC government are taking part in the fraud themselves.

Something needs to be done about this. People here ought to push the issue with their local schools and with their elected representatives. People here ought to help out by reporting suspected cheaters, so OSSE can efficiently conduct the investigations we're paying it to do.

Anonymous wrote:A cool compilation showing that yes, DC is already taking steps to stop fraud and the Daily Caller's "journalism" is just a way to bash the Democrats and black people through the proxy of the District.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did you read the statute? Schools get money, that's m-o-n-e-y, based on enrollment. Students who are enrolled are the beneficiaries of that money. I don't need to convince you. The false claims attorneys will figure it out.

lol good luck with that! everyone knows it is just a cinch to create novel false claims act theories that don't fit the plain language of the statute, and also to get the govt to intervene in cases that they may not support! but go ahead anyway.

Ok, let's look at the plain language:

(a) Any person who commits any of the following acts shall be liable to the District for 3 times the amount of damages which the District sustains because of the act of that person. A person who commits any of the following acts shall also be liable to the District for the costs of a civil action brought to recover penalties or damages, and shall be liable to the District for a civil penalty of not less than $5,500, and not more than $11,000, for each false or fraudulent claim for which the person:

(1) Knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;

(2) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;

A school administrator that requests funding based on enrollment knowing that enrolled students are not D.C. residents has caused a false claim to be presented for approval.
A parent who falsifies residency information has knowingly used a false record that is material to a false claim.

Note that the parent can be liable even if cannot be shown that the administrators know their enrollment numbers are false, so long as the parent knows that the documents they use to prove residency are false.

How can it be any more plain?

indeed, winning giant false claims cases is like falling off a log!!

a suit against a charter school that knowingly solicited MD residents to enroll? Maybe, although you still have to figure out if a government unit can make a false claim against another government unit. A FCA suit against a parent? No. They are not making a "claim". Plus, good luck getting any $$ out of them.

Two can do that:

Being sued is fun! Everyone loves hiring lawyers and being at risk of personal liability! If parents or administrators get sued, no other parents or administrators will think twice! They will keep right on keeping on because they love litigation! And if you're right about your interpretation of the law, nothing bad ever happens to you!

the point is, you won't find a qui tam lawyer to take your dumb case on contingency. so you can pay out of pocket tens of thousands of dollars to your crappy lawyer until you get kicked out of court. sounds fun for you!

People file tons of failing lawsuits all of the time and get funding for it. Just get some angry Ward 3 people to call up the Koch brothers to fund it.

Oh right, a Koch brothers' sponsored lawsuit would totally give me faith that this is a pressing issue, and not a politically motivated hack job!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did you read the statute? Schools get money, that's m-o-n-e-y, based on enrollment. Students who are enrolled are the beneficiaries of that money. I don't need to convince you. The false claims attorneys will figure it out.

lol good luck with that! everyone knows it is just a cinch to create novel false claims act theories that don't fit the plain language of the statute, and also to get the govt to intervene in cases that they may not support! but go ahead anyway.

Ok, let's look at the plain language:

(a) Any person who commits any of the following acts shall be liable to the District for 3 times the amount of damages which the District sustains because of the act of that person. A person who commits any of the following acts shall also be liable to the District for the costs of a civil action brought to recover penalties or damages, and shall be liable to the District for a civil penalty of not less than $5,500, and not more than $11,000, for each false or fraudulent claim for which the person:

(1) Knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;

(2) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;

A school administrator that requests funding based on enrollment knowing that enrolled students are not D.C. residents has caused a false claim to be presented for approval.
A parent who falsifies residency information has knowingly used a false record that is material to a false claim.

Note that the parent can be liable even if cannot be shown that the administrators know their enrollment numbers are false, so long as the parent knows that the documents they use to prove residency are false.

How can it be any more plain?

indeed, winning giant false claims cases is like falling off a log!!

a suit against a charter school that knowingly solicited MD residents to enroll? Maybe, although you still have to figure out if a government unit can make a false claim against another government unit. A FCA suit against a parent? No. They are not making a "claim". Plus, good luck getting any $$ out of them.

Two can do that:

Being sued is fun! Everyone loves hiring lawyers and being at risk of personal liability! If parents or administrators get sued, no other parents or administrators will think twice! They will keep right on keeping on because they love litigation! And if you're right about your interpretation of the law, nothing bad ever happens to you!

the point is, you won't find a qui tam lawyer to take your dumb case on contingency. so you can pay out of pocket tens of thousands of dollars to your crappy lawyer until you get kicked out of court. sounds fun for you!

People file tons of failing lawsuits all of the time and get funding for it. Just get some angry Ward 3 people to call up the Koch brothers to fund it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, couldn't read the whole thread, but is the person in this one for real?:
http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/07/maryland-parent-uses-dc-apartment-to-prove-residency-so-kids-attend-district-schools/

Or is she like the fictitious welfare queens? If she is real, why on earth would she talk to that "reporter"?! Boggling!

Incidentally, I came here to check the board because one of my neighbors mentioned that the Washington Post did an investigative series on residence fraud. I couldn't find anything on the wapo website easily. Did they mean this or did wapo do something too? If not they should.

Washington Post and others have been reporting on this same problem for 20 years now.

2015 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/police-officers-allegedly-enrolled-their-children-in-city-schools-illegally/2015/06/11/896eb078-106a-11e5-a0dc-2b6f404ff5cf_story.html

2015 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/top-basketball-players-from-friendship-collegiate-idea-are-subjects-of-residency-investigation/2015/10/08/43849934-6dd4-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_story.html

2014 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/excel-academy-public-charter-school-under-scrutiny-for-alleged-residency-fraud/2014/11/04/a23e7994-6435-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html

2013 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/former-dc-principal-is-accused-of-helping-relative-avoid-a-hefty-tuition-bill/2013/02/15/7551d568-779a-11e2-aa12-e6cf1d31106b_story.html

2013 - http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/former-d.c.-principal-charged-with-tuition-fraud/article/2521741

2012 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/osse-report-district-pays-at-least-10-million-to-educate-non-resident-students/2012/05/16/gIQAxCOiUU_blog.html

2012- http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/d.c.-sues-md.-mother-for-tuition-fraud/article/2511208/comments

2011 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/dc-tries-to-draw-line-on-school-residency-fraud/2011/10/07/gIQALxDRTL_blog.html

2011 - http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/residency-fraud-in-d-c-schools-tough-to-identify-police/

1996 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/10/06/suburban-students-costing-dc-millions-in-lost-tuition/c208d958-96f3-4f9d-b664-7f36efd18e3d/

A related questions for the citizen investigators here: Do some of the same non-resident families who use fake addresses to get their kids into DCPS also use fake addresses to collect DC TAG money for college? https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/audit-of-dc-tag-tuition-assistance-program-shows-millions-of-dollars-unaccounted-for/2014/02/23/3ffcec58-9a7c-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html I could easily see someone using grandma's DC address to apply for TAG benefits for college. Maybe a follow-up story for the Daily Caller crew?

That's a cool compilation. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did you read the statute? Schools get money, that's m-o-n-e-y, based on enrollment. Students who are enrolled are the beneficiaries of that money. I don't need to convince you. The false claims attorneys will figure it out.

lol good luck with that! everyone knows it is just a cinch to create novel false claims act theories that don't fit the plain language of the statute, and also to get the govt to intervene in cases that they may not support! but go ahead anyway.

Ok, let's look at the plain language:

(a) Any person who commits any of the following acts shall be liable to the District for 3 times the amount of damages which the District sustains because of the act of that person. A person who commits any of the following acts shall also be liable to the District for the costs of a civil action brought to recover penalties or damages, and shall be liable to the District for a civil penalty of not less than $5,500, and not more than $11,000, for each false or fraudulent claim for which the person:

(1) Knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;

(2) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;

A school administrator that requests funding based on enrollment knowing that enrolled students are not D.C. residents has caused a false claim to be presented for approval.
A parent who falsifies residency information has knowingly used a false record that is material to a false claim.

Note that the parent can be liable even if cannot be shown that the administrators know their enrollment numbers are false, so long as the parent knows that the documents they use to prove residency are false.

How can it be any more plain?

indeed, winning giant false claims cases is like falling off a log!!

a suit against a charter school that knowingly solicited MD residents to enroll? Maybe, although you still have to figure out if a government unit can make a false claim against another government unit. A FCA suit against a parent? No. They are not making a "claim". Plus, good luck getting any $$ out of them.

Two can do that:

Being sued is fun! Everyone loves hiring lawyers and being at risk of personal liability! If parents or administrators get sued, no other parents or administrators will think twice! They will keep right on keeping on because they love litigation! And if you're right about your interpretation of the law, nothing bad ever happens to you!

the point is, you won't find a qui tam lawyer to take your dumb case on contingency. so you can pay out of pocket tens of thousands of dollars to your crappy lawyer until you get kicked out of court. sounds fun for you!