Starting July 1, new proofs of residency required for school registration in the Boston Public Schools

BOSTON - Parents registering their children for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) should review a new policy that requires additional proofs of residency established by the School Committee. Starting July 1, 2004, parents will be required to present at least three pieces of documentation that prove they are residents of the City of Boston, selecting from a list of acceptable forms.

The new policy is part of a larger strategy that the School Committee and school department has been working on for months to ensure that only students who live in Boston are attending the public schools in the city.

After receiving several complaints of non-residents using the city's exam schools, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino asked the BPS and the School Committee to review its residency policy. Based on several months of conversations and public input, the School Committee approved the set of new policies based on recommendations from Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant that addressed all aspects of residency. All of the other new policies took effect immediately with the new proofs of residency scheduled to take effect on July 1.

The new policies included:

1. a more specific definition of "residency" for all Boston Public Schools;
2. additional and more stringent requirements for all families to prove Boston residency, including at least three forms of documentation to apply for assignment; and
3. 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. The new measures include, among others, hiring a residency investigator to pursue cases of suspected residency fraud, conducting random residency audits and spot-checks of out-of-city MBTA train stations and establishing an anonymous Residency Tip Line - 617-635-6775 - for families, staff and students to report possible residency violations.

For more information or to view the complete residency policy, visit www.bostonpublicschools.org/residency.