Residency policies and procedures vary widely by district, but in all cases they are looking to see that you are a resident, not an owner, in the district. I understand that communities are protective of the schools that they pay for, but I was heartbroken when I lost a lot of great kids in the process. 2. I'm not saying it's OK to lie to get into the district but it's a very complicated issue. Does this only have the opportunity to get me in trouble at school or could it have legal issues with fraud or tax evasion. I realize this is a tough question to answer without giving opinions alongside the advice, and posts with both advice and opinion were published, but responses that only responded to the responses, and did not answer the question, were not published. Do you really think it's morally correct that because family A has more money than family B, child from family A will get a better education (and thus more opportunities to increase that family's wealth in future) than child from family B? It is not, however, acceptable behavior as you obviously understand and tried to address with him. He thrived in the new school. Not everyone has the means to get into a ''desireable'' school. I've been struggling with this since finding out about a student (well, actually, parents of course) who lied their way into a desirable school. Am I sure people were turney away in my school district? The point should be whether the laws are just and fair, not if somebody breaks them. There are many (political, funding, getting caught) reasons not to do this, but the most important is that it's so damaging to be involved in a lie. to prove that their families lived where they said they did. The best is barely mediocre in many of the local cities. Perhaps blow the whistle on our current political administration instead. How school districts find and prove residency fraud - WHYY It is none of my business. My husband and I work hard to afford where we live. and saw a lot of out of control classrooms, teachers screaming at kids, kids running rampant and hurting each other, trash and graffiti everywhere and no parents anywhere, then yeah, I would do anything to keep my kid out of there, including using my mom's address. anon, No, you can't legitimately do this, in the AUSD at least. Dr. Ken Shore's Classroom Problem Solver Lying in Class Most children lie sometimes. Maybe the parents are divorced or a multi family situation where a legal parent does indeed live in the ''legal'' area. Should I report these parents for lying about their address to - Quora If you have the time and inclination, get involved in your local school before your child actually enters kindergarten. I moved out of my family home out of necessity at age 16; I did not have the opportunity to attend college because I was working full time and helping to support my younger siblings. Transfer Trash, ''Let he (or she) who is without sin cast the first stone.'' HOpe this is helpful. Test scores mean nothing if the school is not a good match for your child. This has been going on for decades, and it not just a Bay Area, or even a California phenomenon. Their child is already enrolled and thriving (I'm guessing) at the better school. Who among us hasn't embellished our qualifications, popped a grape in our mouth at the store, stuffed an extra wad of tp in our bra, exaggerated a wait-time at a restaurant to get seated quicker, or forgotten to report to our tax attorney that little job we did for which we got paid in cash? You're right to want to complain. 18 U.S. Code 1038 - False information and hoaxes so my opinion (albeit biased) is to mind your own business. Anna, why ask others to live by YOUR moral code? Priority placement rules are based on outmoded concerns of diversity, ignore the rights of parents as taxpayers, and is a system rife with abuse. We're well aware of the ethical issues but when our child is suffering, it's hard to be a purist. And if it is, districts have procedures to consider accepting out of district students. Not everyone can afford to live in neighborhoods with good schools, this doesn't mean they don't work hard and pay their taxes just like you and I. I guess you have to ask if you are willing to deny this child a safe secure learning environment to ''satisfy your sense of right and wrong.'' anon. Unless I am mistaken, the poster's parents may have been paying taxes for other people's children to go to school in their district for some time. Well I think the child is being far more hurt by living a lie and being taught that it is ok to cheat to get what you want. But you will be hurting a family (and a child) who has done no real harm to you or anyone you know, and it's always possible that the child who gets the spot will also have parents who lied to get him the spot. That kind of cheating by people who perfectly happy to take someone else's legitimate spot is so unfair. Stealing education: families fake residency for school - Asbury Park Press I would not cheat, did not cheat. Good luck in making the best decision for your child. Lying about addresses, or real school choice? - reimaginED My son has a friend that allowed him to use his address that falls within the new boundary lines. Or maybe you're talking about grade school, not Berkeley High, so maybe it's not their top choice school but still it's one in the district. Some Bay Area schools are terrible! Using a False Address in a Better School District This could be devistating for that family.do you know their situation? This one child is clearly benefitting by my lie. Can parents or children face criminal consequences for using a fake address for school enrollment in CA state. Just wondering what others' experience has been (were you caught, what were the consequences, would you do it again, was it worth the stress, how vigilant are the better districts, etc.) The finer points or morals are a cold comfort when it comes to a decent education for your children. But I've also taught in several schools of various rankings that I think would be great places for my kid. More. Guess what? Her son was being beat up. One question is have you actually approached or feel safe enough to approach the parent/s and talk with them? Anonymous, This is from the original poster: Thank you all for your responses. Albany Parent. This Mom Was Sent To Jail For Trying To Get Her Kids Into A Better buying an inexpensive place in a Tier 1 neighborhood to use as a storage unit and address for CPS high school applications and 2) complicated scheme to rent or buy an inexpensive place in the lincoln . It's overly simplistic to think of it in terms of ''reserved spots'' and some abstract idea of who is being hurt - the reality is it's all the kids who AREN'T in your district who are being hurt, every day. to lie to get what you want. I 19f am planning to move out in October. Ask about staff turnover--happy teachers make happy classrooms, and happy teachers tend to stay in the profession and in the same school. Anon, I know of a family who did this exact thing, and I heard that they got caught. The future belongs to ALL of these kids, not just the privileged few And yes, I volunteer. Do what you want to do. Sometimes, the offending parent will go so far as to harm or deprive their children in order to make the other parent look bad. They are pictured above in Los Angeles in 2015. Great education for all, I have to add a couple of additional perspectives to the discussion of using an investment property address for school residency. As for how to address it, one way is some variation on the Boy Who Cried Wolf . How To Deal With Lying in Children and Teens - Empowering Parents It comes down to what I am willing to sacrifice in order to place him in a better school. 2) MAKE SURE YOUR MOTIVATION IS PURE: While there may be a globally positive reason for encouraging people to follow the rules, attacking another party individually in this case may serve no great purpose, except to satisfy you personally that someone isn't ''cheating.'' Why is that? Amid the scandal surrounding all the white, rich, famous mothers and fathers who scammed the collegiate system by paying their kids' way into a higher education, the case of Kelly Williams-Bolar is resurfacing. We had to provide the district with current utility bills in our name, as well as our property tax bill with the homeowners exemption to prove our residence. I think it is easier to claim such moral values when the person lives in a nice neighborhood in a ''desirable'' school district. My grandchildren in Indiana had the school district lines changed to now require them to go to a less desirable school. anon, Well, I can tell you from the perspective of an Albany parent and homeowner who sees numerous parents cheat the system just to keep their child in Albany schools, even though they live in Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond, I resent it. but don't know of this in other ''good'' districts. Anon, I can't believe all the responses you received to ''mind your own business''. Please say no. Meet the principal and see if you like him or her. Would you want to blow the whistle on someone who puts in a lot of hours on the PTA? You don't know if another parent has a really bleak situation. 2022 Girls United Summit. Is that moral? Maybe there is a loophole that they fall into. NONE of them were the 3 kids who don't even live here! Because of the huge influx of students each year,my child got not first, not second, but THIRD choice for teacher and schedule. She had lived at my house briefly so we just "extended" the rental agreement. I would also never cheat a school district, but if you look hard enough there must be things that we all do wrong. It is both unethical and unfair, and in doing so you are helping soneone commit fraud. In Oakland there is only one decent junior high school -- Montera -- and for folks with incomes that don't put them in the montclair area, the others don't even come close. anonymous, I would ask myself these questions: What is more, or less, moral: That the ''illegal'' child's parents are placed in the position they are, or that you are placed in your position? What happens if you lie about your address to get into a school? Are these transgressions any less egregious? You have no idea how desperate it feels just making it (financialy) and to be faced with the prospect of sending your child or children to a school that is a 1 out of ten. First off, I would not ''blow the whistle'' on this family due to all the reasons given by other parents. The school district would need to take a major stand and eliminate all illegeal transfers. I think it would be firstly preferable to get a legit. But that's not what you asked. It was a total shock. genevieve. It's totally unfair. I'm sure if you were on the other side, you wouldn't appreciate it either. In fact, I would argue that it has been a lack of community (aside mostly from actual parents) that has led to such a denigration in our school systems. I was surprised by all of the replies that supported the idea that you should NOT help your friend by having them use your address. When all the PUBLIC schools offer equal education then we can complain about parents who ''break the rules.'' When signing up for a school, you have to tell them your address. My kids went to public schools in Berkeley, and I would feel completely comfortable about any of the Berkeley schools regardless of test scores. Dont report the child. Or consider private if it is at all possible. Be clear, concise and ''objective.'' THAT's the way this family should do it. I'm worried that, among other things, there may be legal consequences if caught. I personally would feel very uncomfortable teaching/coaching my child to lie so that we could get into a district we weren't legally supposed to attend.. practical mom. I'm sure your district is the same. Code Ann. Twice in fourth grade, and once in fifth. If I were in your situation, I also would share your concern about giving your kid the message that lying is okay to get what you want. Kudos to you! A good friend should not ask a friend to do something unethical. School vouchers are sounding better everyday Good luck in what ever you decide Cristina. Please take a moment to check out this intelligent explanation of California schools: First to Worst: http://www.pbs.org/merrow/tv/ftw/ Here is a quick excerpt.. ''First to Worst explores the roots of California's current education crisis, tracing it to the anti-tax movement of the 1970's and 80's and to civil rights lawsuits that aimed to equalize school spending but resulted instead in disastrous funding limits on schools. And unfortunately, it will probably take many more to correct it. This little-discussed corner of the K-12 landscape contains so many of the issues that shape education in Pennsylvania today. Are you sure that they are using false addresses? SINGAPORE - A father initially sentenced to two weeks' jail for lying about where he lived to get his daughter into a prestigious primary school, was on Friday (aug28) handed the maximum $5,000 . Is the school in your neighborhood safe? I think he would have dropped out of school if he had gone to the school in Oakland. For now, all is fair in love, and fulfilling the needs of our children. Worry about your own actions and those of your children and leave others to make decisions about what is right for them. First, the community where you live offers the financial and other support that makes the school system attractive (I am assuming that this is a case in which the friend lives in a district considered less ''desirable'' than yours). (low scores can indicate more children with non-native English speaking parents and not always a lowsy school.)