The Acushnet School Committee adopts the following policy regarding the residency and admissions of students. The staff is directed to ensure that all forms and regulations are fully executed and conform to this policy.
In order to attend the Acushnet Public Schools, a student must actually reside in the Town of Acushnet (MGL Chapter 76, Section 5), unless one of the exceptions (set forth in Part V below) applies. The legal residence of a minor child is presumed to be the legal residence of the child’s parent or legal guardian having physical custody of the child. A legal guardian, other than a parent, must present to the school district a copy of a court order granting guardianship. A copy will be kept on file at the school. A student’s actual residence or dwelling is considered to be the place where he or she actually lives for a majority of school nights per week.
Unless expressly permitted under the approved guidelines, temporary residence in the Town of Acushnet solely for the purpose of attending the Acushnet Public Schools is not considered “residence” for admissions to the Acushnet Pubic Schools. In determining residency, the Acushnet Public Schools retains the right to require the production of a variety of records and documentation and to investigate where a student actually resides.
A determination that a student does not actually reside in the Town of Acushnet renders the student ineligible to enroll in the Acushnet Public Schools, or if the student is already enrolled in the Acushnet Public Schools, shall result in the termination of such enrollment.
Residency will be verified upon initial admission to school. The parent or legal guardian must provide the following:
All applicants for enrollment must submit at least one document each from Column A, B, and C and any other documents that may be requested, including but not limited to those from Column A, B, or C (noted below). A parent, guardian, or student who is unable to produce the required documents should contact the school for further instruction.
The building principal, or his/her designee, may verify the home address and home telephone number of each student at least once during the school year. Any irregularities shall warrant an inquiry or investigation. Parents/Guardians are required to notify the school of any changes of their address or the address of the student within five days of the change. In addition, residency will be verified upon admission to middle school and upon admission to high school. In these instances, the parent or legal guardian must provide one document from Column A and one document from Column B (see previous page) and a signed Statement of Residency.
III. ENFORCEMENT
Should a question arise concerning any student’s residency in the Town of Acushnet while attending the Acushnet Public Schools, the student’s residency will be subject to further inquiry and/or investigation. Such questions concerning residency may arise on the basis of incomplete, suspicious, or contradictory proofs of address; anonymous tips; correspondence that is returned to the Acushnet Public Schools because of an invalid or unknown address, or other grounds.
The building principal may request additional documentation, may use the assistance of the school department’s attendance officer, and/or may obtain the services of police or investigative agency personnel to conduct investigations into student residence. The attendance officer and/or residency investigator(s) will report his/her/their findings to the building principal, who shall make a determination of residency. A parent, legal guardian, or student who has reached the age of majority (18), who is aggrieved by a determination of residency, may appeal the determination to the superintendent of schools, whose decision shall be final.
Students found to be in violation of the residency policy may be dismissed immediately from the Acushnet Public Schools.
IV. PENALTIES
In addition to termination of enrollment and the imposition of other penalties permitted by law, the Acushnet Public Schools reserves the right to seek restitution based upon the costs of educational services provided during the period of non-residency.
V. EXCEPTIONS
1. The Residency Requirements Shall Not Apply to the Following:
a. Tuition paying students, as permitted by law;
b. Students who are entitled to attend the Acushnet Public Schools under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
2. Extraordinary Circumstances:
a. At the discretion of the superintendent, a student already enrolled in the Acushnet Public Schools who moves out on or after April 1st of a given school year may complete the current school year.
b. Tuition Waivers
At the discretion of the superintendent, tuition may be waived in the following cases:
1. Students whose parents divorce or separate, provided the custodial parent remains a resident of Acushnet, and the student resides with the custodial parent for the majority of school nights per week.
2. Singular cases, determined on a case-by-case basis.
3. Dwellings that are Intersected by the Town Line:
a. Single Family Dwelling
In the case of a single family dwelling that is intersected by whatever degree by the town boundary line because of construction or alterations occurring after the adoption of this policy, if more than fifty percent of such dwelling is located within the town boundary, persons residing therein may attend the Acushnet Public Schools.
b. Multiple-Dwelling Structure
In the case of a multiple-dwelling structure in which any apartment, suite, or family unit located therein is intersected by the town boundary line because of construction or alterations occurring after the adoption of this policy, if more than fifty percent of such apartment, suite or family unit is located within the town boundary, persons residing therein may attend the Acushnet Public Schools.
VI. POTENTIAL WAIVER WHEN RESIDENCY IS IN TRANSITION
For students whose residency is in transition, the following exceptions to the general policy may apply, with prior written approval from the superintendent of schools:
1. Pending Purchase of Dwelling
The children of families who have a signed and accepted purchase and sale agreement to purchase and reside in a dwelling in the Town of Acushnet may be enrolled for up to 30 calendar days in advance of the time actual physical residence occurs. If actual residence occurs later than 30 days after enrollment, students may be asked to leave the schools until actual residence occurs.
2. Construction of New Dwelling
Where a family is building a primary residence in Acushnet, the children of that family may be enrolled in the Acushnet Public Schools at the start of the school year, provided that the family has obtained and provides to the school department a certificate of occupancy from the town documenting that they will be able to occupy the new primary residence within 30 days.
3. Residence in Rental Properties
Children of families who plan to rent a primary residence in Acushnet may enroll in the Acushnet Public Schools 30 days prior to taking possession of the rental property, as evidenced by a signed lease and evidence of financial commitment.
4. Brief Residence Outside the Town
Acushnet students whose families must briefly live outside the town because they are: (a) moving from one Acushnet residence to another, or (b) renovating a current Acushnet residence, may continue to attend the Acushnet Public Schools. Evidence of the intention and ability to resume residency in Acushnet within 90 days may be required.
VII. NOTIFICATION
The Acushnet Public Schools residency requirements, verification procedures, and consequences of falsifying or misrepresenting residency will be published in the Acushnet School Committee Policy Manual, in each school’s student handbook, and will be posted on the Acushnet Public Schools Website.
Legal Reference: M.G.L. 15:1G; 76:1; 76.5; 76.15; 76:15A
Cross References: JHCA, Physical Examination of Students; JHCB Inoculations of Students; JFABD Homeless Students Enrollment Rights and Services
Initial Adoption: 1/5/99
1st reading on amendment: 11/5/02
Adoption: 6/17/03
Revised: 8/05/08