School Committee approves rigorous new residency enforcement strategy in all Boston schools

BOSTON - The Boston School Committee last night completed its three-month review and revision of the residency policy for all Boston Public Schools. The board approved a series of measures recommended by Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant to help ensure that only Boston residents attend the City's public schools.

The new policies include:

• a more specific definition of "residency" for all Boston Public Schools;
• additional and more stringent requirements for all families to prove Boston residency, including at least three forms of documentation to apply for assignment; and
• stricter penalties - including fines and possible legal action - for families found to be in violation of the residency policy.

The School Committee also approved additional and more extensive residency investigation and enforcement strategies, including among others:

• hiring of a residency investigator to pursue cases of suspected residency fraud;
• conducting of random residency audits and spot-checks of out-of-city MBTA train stations; and
• establishment of an anonymous Residency Tip Line - 617-635-6775 - for families, staff and students to report possible residency violations.

In approving more explicit penalties for families proven to be in violation of the policy, the Committee approved a one-time amnesty period, during which time students and parents may disclose their non-Boston status to Principals and Headmasters without penalty other than dismissal from school. Families who come forward during the amnesty period will not be subject to any legal action or financial penalties. The amnesty period ends Friday, March 19, 2004 and will not be offered in subsequent school years.

In addition, the School Committee modified the policy for application to the City's three exam schools, requiring that all applicants prove City of Boston residency no later than the first Friday in February for matriculation the following September. The new policy states that applicants who have not provided proof of Boston residency by the first Friday in February will not be considered for invitation to the three schools (Boston Latin Academy, the O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science and Boston Latin School).

Under the previous exam school admissions policy, non-Boston residents could apply to the exam schools and, if invited, establish Boston residency by July 31. Beginning with those seeking admission for September 2005, the new policy will extend invitations only to qualified students already living in Boston when applications and test scores are reviewed.

Last December, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and others asked the School Committee and Superintendent to address the problem of families who live outside of the city providing fraudulent information about Boston residency to gain admission to Boston schools.

"It is unacceptable for families who live outside of Boston to deprive City residents of these educational opportunities," said Elizabeth Reilinger, Chair of the School Committee. "These tougher policies and procedures will help us ensure that only students who are legal residents of the City of Boston will be allowed to attend our schools."

Superintendent Payzant noted that the recommendations he presented to the School Committee were designed to expand the efforts already in place to identify and investigate residency violators.

Dr. Payzant said, "These additional steps will improve our ability to identify suspected violators, investigate their residency, and crack down on non-Boston residents attending our schools."

The complete policy document is available on the BPS web site:
http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/dept/docs/supt_memo6r.doc