BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Residency

The issue of student residency has recently been a topic of media attention and discussion in school districts across the country. On December 19, 2006, the Board of Education approved changes to the district's residency policy to provide further clarification and support the district's enrollment procedures. It is important for our community to understand our district's residency policy and the different types of residency that exist. We hope you will find the following information helpful in understanding our district's residency policy.

The Birmingham Public Schools is not a 'School of Choice' district. This means that students from outside the school district's boundaries cannot attend school unless they 1) pay tuition or 2) are the student(s) of an employee, per State law. The Birmingham Public Schools offers open enrollment options for its students. Students from within the district can attend other schools in the district, per guidelines established in Board Policy.

There are basically three types of residency:

• Traditional residency is defined as families that have purchased or are renting a residence, live at the residence, and send the student(s) to our public schools.
• Non-traditional residency includes ‘living with' placements, children living with guardians, foster placements, placements with relatives, and situations where a divorced parent who lives in the district enrolls his/her student(s).
• The final category of residency is tuition , which includes 1) student(s) who receive a release from their home district and pay our tuition rate less their home district's foundation grant, 2) student(s) who pay the entire amount of our tuition rate, or 3) student(s) of an employee who are exempt from paying tuition per State law.

To establish residency, the district has specific requirements.

• For traditional residency , the district requires a driver's license or state-issued picture identification of the person enrolling the student(s), current property tax statement (or closing statement or deed) in the name of the person enrolling the student(s), and original copies of three utility bills (or verification of utility activation) for the address used to establish residency. For renters, in lieu of a current property tax statement, the district requires a signed lease for the address used to establish residency, in the name of the person enrolling the student(s), and a ‘Landlord Statement' form.
• For non-traditional residency , the district requires the items listed above. In addition, for parents/guardians in a ‘living with' placement, the district also requires (two of three of the following) the most recent paycheck stub, car insurance, or medical bill in the name of the person enrolling the student(s) with the address used to establish residency. Further, guardianship documents and/or other court documents are also required when applicable.
• For tuition students, a release from their home district is required, or the tuition fee is the total amount of the district's foundation grant. With the release , the tuition fee is the total amount of the district's foundation grant less the home district's foundation grant. Again, student(s) of an employee are exempt from paying tuition per State law.

The Birmingham Public Schools is required to accurately report pupil enrollment and accounting. When school personnel report issues of residency, an investigation is conducted. When issues of false residency are investigated, and the investigation determines false residency, our response is to immediately disenroll the student(s). Further, the Board of Education's policy states the following:

• The parent/guardian shall be responsible for tuition for the entire period of the child's attendance, in accordance with Birmingham Public Schools' tuition policy for non-resident students.
• The parent/guardian shall be responsible for any and all costs incurred by Birmingham Public Schools in its investigation of the particular residency issue, including actual attorney fees.
• Birmingham Public Schools will refer the matter to the applicable local police department and/or the Oakland County Prosecutor to pursue a claim of criminal residency fraud.
• Should the student subsequently seek to enroll in the Birmingham Public Schools, after establishing a bona fide residence, the student will be denied the opportunity to participate in any extra-curricular activities for a period of one (1) school year.

2-15-07