| Section: | 5000 Students | | Policy Name: | 5111.1 Residency | | Policy Number: | 5111.1 | | Date Approved: | 10/10/1989 | | Last Revised: | 4/16/2018 |
ELIGIBILITY TO ATTEND PLAINVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Any child of school age who resides in the Town of Plainville may attend the Plainville Public Schools in accordance with conditions defined in the regulations of this policy. Any child who does not reside in the Town of Plainville may make application to attend the Plainville Public Schools and may be considered under special conditions as defined in the regulations of this policy.
Residency
Any parent or legal guardian who wishes to enroll his or her school age child or ward, and any emancipated minor or person between the ages of 18 and 21 years who seeks to enroll as a student, will be required as a condition of enrollment to submit a Certificate of Residency to the building principal. The certificate will state the Plainville address at which the enrollee resides, and will be signed by the owner or the lessor of the dwelling in which the enrollee resides.
In the case of a school age child who is residing in Plainville with a relative other than a parent or legal guardian, or with a non-relative, the parent or legal guardian of the school age child and the person with whom the child is residing in Plainville will each be required to sign, as a condition of the child's enrollment, a sworn affidavit attesting to the fact that the child's residence in Plainville is intended to be permanent, is provided without pay, and is not for the sole purpose of obtaining school accommodations in the Town of Plainville.
Evidence of Residency
Where there is reason to believe that a student is not a Plainville resident, the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee may require documentation of residency, which documentation may include sworn affidavits. If residency is not established to the satisfaction of the Superintendent, steps will be taken to exclude the student from continued attendance in the Plainville schools.
Such steps will include a denial of enrollment to a school age child who is not currently enrolled in the school system. In the case of a child who is enrolled, an investigation of actual residence will be undertaken. Such an investigation may include surveillance for the purpose of documenting residency in a town other than Plainville.
Assessment of Tuition
The Board of Education reserves the right to assess tuition against a parent or guardian, emancipated minor, or adult pupil, as the case may be, if the State Board of Education denies an appeal of a Board of Education determination of non-residence.
Non-resident Students-Nonresident Attendance Without Tuition
Upon written parental request and when determined by the Superintendent of Schools to be consistent with the best interests of the school system, nonresident students may be allowed by the Superintendent to attend the Plainville schools without tuition under one or more of the following conditions:
1. The child's residence changes during the school year. In such a case the child may continue in school attendance tuition free for the purpose of completing the school year provided that the period of such non-resident attendance shall not exceed three calendar months.
2. The residence of a child enrolled as a senior at Plainville High School changes. In such a case the child shall be allowed to complete the senior year regardless of the time in the school year at which the residence changes.
3. A family residing outside of the district has firm plans to move into the school district within the current school year as evidenced by a contract for the purchase and/or construction of a home, or a signed lease. As a condition of school attendance, the parent or legal guardian will be required to agree in writing to pay tuition for the period of school attendance if residence is not established during the school year.
4. Children reside temporarily within the district as a result of a family change or children attending the Plainville schools reside temporarily outside of the district because of a family change. Generally, approval under this section shall not exceed three (3) calendar months; exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
Exchange Students
Foreign exchange students may be admitted by the Superintendent for no more than two semesters at no tuition cost consistent with federal law and visa requirements. Admissions are dependent upon space available and must not lead to the hiring of additional staff.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes §10-186 Connecticut General Statutes §10-253
Homeless Students: The Board of Education does not discriminate against homeless students and will provide the education and services needed to ensure that these students have an opportunity to achieve the same academic achievement standards to which all students are held.
Migrant Students: The Board of Education does not discriminate against migrant students. Migrant students will be identified and the Superintendent will provide programs to address their educational and related health and social needs.
Nonresident Attendance With Tuition
Non-residents, who do not meet one or more criteria under previous sections of this policy, may attend the Plainville schools only with tuition payment. The Superintendent of Schools is authorized to accept non-resident students on a tuition basis. Tuition fees are set annually. Tuition students are accepted under the following conditions:
a. Acceptance is dependent upon space available and must not lead to the hiring of additional staff or the inability to eliminate positions due to declining enrollment or other factors.
b. The Superintendent shall make the school assignment.
c. Such admissions are reviewed annually by the Superintendent.
d. Parents are responsible for transportation.
e. Educational programming for the student in question will not require expenditures that adversely affect the budget of the Board of Education in the judgment of the Superintendent.
f. The Board of Education is not responsible for any special education and related costs while the student is enrolled in Plainville Public Schools.
Non-resident tuition students are expected to adhere to school rules of conduct. Failure to do so may result in the denial of the privilege of attending the Plainville schools.
The Superintendent of Schools may terminate the enrollment of a non-resident tuition student if the Superintendent deems such termination to be in the best interest of the Plainville Public Schools.
The District administration shall attempt to remove existing barriers to school attendance by homeless children or youth, which may include:
A. Records: The selected school for the homeless student shall enroll the child or youths even in the absence of records normally required for enrollment. The last school in which the student was enrolled shall be contacted to obtain records.
B. Other enrollment requirements that may constitute a barrier to the education of the homeless child or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent.
C. Grade Level Placement: If the District is unable to determine the student's grade level due to missing or incomplete records, the District shall administer tests or utilize other reasonable means to determine the appropriate grade level for the child.
D. Fees and charges, which may present a barrier to the enrollment or transfer of a homeless child or youth, shall be waived.
E. Transportation services must be comparable to those provided other students in the selected school. Transportation shall be provided to the student's school of origin in compliance with federal and state regulations.
F. Official school records, policies, and regulations shall be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent, in compliance with federal and state regulations.
G. Immunization Records The District shall make a reasonable effort to locate immunization records from information available. The District's liaison shall assist the parent/guardian in obtaining the necessary immunizations and records. The District shall arrange for students to receive immunizations through health agencies and at District expense if no other recourse is available. Immunizations may, however, be waived for homeless youth only in accordance with provisions of Board of Education policy on immunizations.
H. Other barriers to school attendance by homeless children or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
Further, it is the policy of the Board of Education that no child or youth shall be discriminated against or stigmatized in this school district because of homelessness. Homeless students, as defined by federal and state statutes, residing within the district or residing in temporary shelters in the district are entitled to free school privileges.
Homeless students shall not be separated from the mainstream school environment on the basis of their homelessness. Such students shall have access to education and other services they need to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.
Homeless students within the district not placed in a shelter remain the district's responsibility to provide continued educational services. Such services for the child may be:
1. continued in the school ("school of origin") that the student attended when permanently housed or the school of last enrollment; or
2. provided in the school that is attended by other students living in the same attendance area where the homeless child lives.
To the extent feasible, a homeless child will be kept in the school of origin, unless it is against the wishes of the parent/guardian. If placement in the school of origin is not feasible, the homeless student must be placed in the school that is attended by other students living in the same attendance area in which the homeless child lives.
The District will provide a written explanation, including the right to appeal, whenever the District sends a homeless student to a school other than the school of origin, a school requested by the parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth.
Homeless children shall be provided educational services that are comparable to those provided to other students enrolled in the District, including but not limited to, Title I, transportation services, compensatory educational programs, gifted and talented, special education, ESL, health services and food and nutrition programs, and preschools operated by the District, if they meet the established criteria for these services.
The Superintendent of Schools shall refer identified homeless children under the age of eighteen who may reside within the school district, unless such children are emancipated minors, to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).
The district administration shall attempt to remove existing barriers to school attendance by homeless emancipated minors and youth eighteen years of age:
1. The selected school for the homeless child shall enroll the child, even in the absence of records normally required for enrollment. The last school enrolled shall be contacted to obtain records.
2. Other enrollment requirements that may constitute a barrier to the education of the homeless child or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent. If the district is unable to determine the student's grade level due to missing or incomplete records, the district shall administer tests or utilize other reasonable means to determine the appropriate grade level for the child.
3. Fees and charges, which may present a barrier to the enrollment or transfer of a homeless child or youth, may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent.
4. Transportation services must be comparable to those provided other students in the selected school. Transportation shall be provided to the student's school of origin in compliance with federal and state regulations. If the school of origin is in a different school district from where the homeless child or youth is currently living, both school districts shall agree on a method for sharing the responsibility and costs, or share the costs equally.
5. Official school records policies and regulations shall be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent, in compliance with federal statutes.
6. The district shall make a reasonable effort to locate immunization records from information available. The District's liaison shall assist the parent/guardian in obtaining the necessary immunizations and records. The District shall arrange for students to receive immunizations through health agencies and at District expense if no other recourse is available. Immunizations may, however, be waived for homeless youth only in accordance with provisions of Board of Education policy on immunizations.
7. The Board will provide any homeless student, who is not in the physical custody of a parent/guardian, full access to his/her educational records, including medical records, in the Board's possession.
8. Other barriers to school attendance by homeless children or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
9. The District will treat information about a homeless child or youth's living situation as a student education record subject to the protections of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Such information shall not be deemed to be directory information.
The District's educational liaison for homeless children is Plainville’s Assistant Superintendent. The liaison must assist homeless children and youth, as described within the administrative regulations, in the placement/enrollment decisions, considering the youth's wishes and provide notice of appeal under the Act's enrollment disputes provisions. The liaison shall also participate in State provided professional development programs for local liaisons.
Students residing in a temporary shelter are entitled to free school privileges from the district in which the shelter is located or from the school district where they would otherwise reside if not for the placement in the temporary shelter. The district in which the temporary shelter is located shall notify the district where the student would otherwise be attending. The district so notified may choose to either:
1. continue to provide educational services, including transportation between the temporary shelter and the school in the home district; or
2. pay tuition to the district in which the temporary shelter is located.
The Superintendent shall develop regulations, to ensure compliance with applicable statutes in the implementation of this policy.
(cf. 5143: Student Health Assessments and Immunizations)
(cf. 5146: Child Abuse and Neglect)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-253(e) School privileges for children in certain placements, non-resident children and children in temporary shelters. (as amended by PA 17-194)
17a 101 Protection of children from abuse. Reports required of certain professional persons. When child may be removed from surroundings without court order.
17a 103 Reports by others.
17a 106 Cooperation in relation to prevention, identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
46b 120 Definitions.
PA 17-194 An Act Concerning Access to Student Records for Certain Unaccompanied Youths.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, (PL 107-110-Sec 1032) 42 U.S.C. §11431-11435, as amended by the ESSA, P.L. 114-95.
Federal Register: McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program, Vol. 81, No. 52, 3/17/2016.
Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended, added by section 513 of P.L. 93-568, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1232g.)
Dept. of Educ. 34 C.F.R. Part 99 (May 9, 1980 45 FR 30802) regs. Implementing FERPA enacted as part of 438 of General Educ. Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) parent and student privacy and other rights with respect to educational records, as amended 11/21/96, and Final Rule 34 CFR Part 99, December 9, 2008, December 2, 2011.
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