House Bill 21, which goes into effect on September 28, 2018, requires community schools to verify the residency of students at various times of enrollment.
The act requires community schools to verify a student’s residency upon enrollment and on an annual basis. Additionally, community schools must conduct monthly reviews of the residency records of their students, a responsibility formerly imposed on school districts.
Community schools are also now mandated to have a policy regarding the number of documents needed to initially verify a student’s residency. The act includes the following as a non-comprehensive list of acceptable documents:
- A deed, mortgage, lease, current home owner’s or renter’s insurance declaration page, or current property tax bill.
- A utility bill or receipt of utility installation issued within 90 days of the student’s enrollment.
- A paycheck or paystub issued to the parent or student within 90 days of the student’s enrollment that includes the address of the parent’s or student’s primary residence.
- The most current available bank statement issued to the parent or student that includes the address of the parent’s or student’s primary residence.
- Any other official document issued to the parent or student that includes the address of the parent’s or student’s primary residence.
Finally, the act requires community schools to develop a procedure for parents/guardians to follow in order to notify the school when there is a change in the family’s primary residence.
The Final Bill Analysis of House Bill 21 can be found here.
Authors: Matthew John Markling and the McGown & Markling Team.
Note: This blog entry does not constitute – nor does it contain – legal advice. Legal jurisprudence is like the always changing Midwestern weather. As a result, this single blog entry cannot substitute for consultation with a McGown & Markling attorney. If legal advice is needed with respect to a specific factual situation, please feel free to contact a McGown & Markling attorney.