Public schools across the United States rely on local taxpayers’ dollars to provide free education to their resident students. Most states have basic school residency requirements in order for students to enroll and receive a free public school education.
Pennsylvania Code Chapter 11, Section 11, Admission to Public Schools outlines resident children’s entitlement to public school education.
Entitlement of resident children
to attend public schools
"A school-age child is entitled to attend the public schools of the child’s district of residence. A child’s district of residence is that in which the parents or the guardian resides. When the parents reside in different school districts due to separation, divorce or other reason, the child may attend school in the district of residence of the parent with whom the child lives for a majority of the time, unless a court order or court approved custody agreement specifies otherwise. If the parents have joint custody and time is evenly divided, the parents may choose which of the two school districts the child will enroll for the school year. If the child is an emancipated minor, the resident school district is the one in which the child is then living. For purposes of this section, an emancipated minor is a person under 21 years of age who has chosen to establish a domicile apart from the continued control and support of parents or guardians. A minor living with a spouse is deemed emancipated."
Residency fraud occurs when parents lie about their residency on enrollment forms so their children may attend public schools in jurisdictions where they do not live.
Evidence of non-residency in school residence verification investigations
- Post office boxes or mailing addresses outside of school district boundaries
- Student participation in non-travel team sports outside of the school district
- Proclamations by students or neighbors that the student does not live in the district
- Proof that children reside with a non-parental guardian Monday through Friday and reside with parents outside of the district on the weekends
- Investigation and surveillance of the student’s reported address fails to show the student at that address
Call us in Harrisburg at 888-920-3616
We offer investigation services for Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Carlisle, and the rest of South Central Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
https://www.brianblackwell.biz | Phone: 888-920-3616
