Residency

The 3^rd party vendor utilizes electronic databases to cross check the names and address that the district has on file.  Therefore, there are several reasons that could result with an inability to verify your residency:

• A current copy of title evidence, current mortgage statement, a signed and dated lease agreement, or current property tax bill were not used the last time you proved residency.
• If you rent, the lease that you have on file expires prior to the first day of school for the upcoming school year.
• An affidavit was used to enroll in school.  Affidavits will be required to be redone every year.
• Name and address in Synergy or the electronic databases are inconsistent.
• There are multiple addresses to which a family is linked.
• There has been a recent change in your address that has not been processed by the electronic databases.

In general, residency is defined as having a “physical presence with an intention to remain on a permanent basis.” (Braun, 2010)

Typically, “a child is presumed to be a resident of the school district wherein the persons who have legal custody of him reside.” (Braun, 2010)

Indian Prairie School District #204 does not accept students from outside of the district on a tuition basis.

According to Board Policy 7:60, “If the Superintendent or designee determines that a non-resident student is attending a District school, he or she on behalf of the Board shall notify the person who enrolled the student of the tuition amount that is due and immediately begin proceedings to ban the student from future attendance.  The notice shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested.  The person who enrolled the student may challenge this determination and request a hearing as provided by the School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10-20.12b.”

“A person who knowingly or willfully provides false information to a school district regarding the residency of a pupil for the purpose of enabling the pupil to attend any school in the district without the payment of a nonresident tuition charge commits a Class C misdemeanor (not more than 30 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $1,500).” (Braun, 2010)

“If a student becomes nonresident during a school term, the child must be permitted to attend school in the school district in which the child was originally enrolled and cannot be charged tuition for the remainder of the school term in which the child became non-resident.” (Braun, 2010)

“The facts surrounding any temporary transfer of custody will determine whether or not residency has been established.  The mere creation of a guardianship, transfer of custody, or change of address is not sufficient to establish residence for school attendance purposes.” (Braun, 2010)

“A child is entitled to tuition-free enrollment in the school district wherein he resides…A child is presumed to be a resident of the school district wherein the persons who have legal custody of him reside.” (Braun, 2010)

The district is verifying residency for all families every year.  Residency will either be verified by a 3^rd party vendor or by families providing acceptable forms of residency verification.

A copy of title evidence, current mortgage statement, a signed and dated lease agreement, current property tax bill, current utility bill such as an electric bill, gas bill, or home phone bill (Cell phone bills will not be accepted as proof as residency), photo identification card, Illinois Driver’s License, Illinois State Identification Card, voter’s registration card, home loan payment book, home/renter’s insurance policy, or bank account information.  Please note that title evidence, current mortgage statement, lease agreement, and property tax bill are preferred and allow for greater certainty for verification.

Three of the above forms are required if proving residency without 3^rd party verification.

The 3^rd party vendor utilized parent names as reflected in Synergy. It is possible that a parent’s name is listed in a different fashion for each child. For example, Jon versus Jonathan. Additionally for one of the children, the father may be listed as Guardian 1 and the mother listed as Guardian 1 for the other child. When this happens, a different parent was searched and came back with different results based on database information under the different names.