Student Services / Residency Requirements

Enrolling In A Tuscaloosa County School:     Residency Requirements

DEFINITION OF RESIDENCE

For school attendance purposes, definition of residence is that the student physically resides full time, weekdays/nights, and weekends, at a place of abode located within the limits of the school district or zone. All students will register at the school they are assigned to attend. The parent or legal guardian will provide evidence of residence and the school district administration will verify bona fide occupancy.

A student must attend the school(s) within the school zone in which his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) has established legal residence, except when school assignment has been approved as a part of the system-wide instructional program, under the employee transfer provision, or when a senior whose parent(s) or guardian(s) establishes residence outside the area served by the School System or outside the school zone. At the discretion of the parent(s) or guardian(s), the student may complete his/her senior year at the school he/she currently attends. The School System shall not be responsible for the student's transportation. Exceptions may be granted as provided in Alabama statues and federal law.

A student enrolling or entering the school district will be required to verify his/her residence address as a part of the registration process. Students are not legally enrolled until the verification of residence has been completed. Students, their parent(s) and/or guardian(s) may be required to provide a Declaration of Residence on forms to be established by the Superintendent or his/her designee. When the actual residence of a student comes into question, the Director of Student Services or his/her designee may investigate and in his/her discretion, require additional proof of full-time, actual residency within the attendance zone or county, as the case may be.

ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY

A. Students Living with Parents or Legal Guardians

The parent or legal guardian of a student seeking to enroll in a school will provide the school district with a mortgage document, property deed, or an apartment or home lease AND any one of the items (1) through (4) below as verification of their address:

      1. Utility bills (water, gas, electricity);

      2. Personal visit by a designated school district official;

      3. Filed Homestead Exemption Application form;

          and/or

      4. Any other documentation that will objectively and unequivocally establish that the parent or legal guardian resides within the school district. Any document with a post office box as an address will not be accepted. An affidavit will not be accepted as proof of residency. If the student has a legal guardian, a copy of the court order appointing the guardian must be provided to the district. If a petition for guardianship has been filed and the decree is pending, the student or guardian must provide a certified copy of the filed petition for guardianship. Any legal guardianship for the purpose of establishing residency for school attendance purposes shall not be recognized.

B. Homeless Child/Unaccompanied Youth

When a child is determined to be homeless as defined by the Stewart B. McKinney, Act 42 USC Sections 11431 (1), 11432 (e)(4), and 11302 (a), the school district will consider and take the enrollment action      that is in the best interest of the child pursuant to 42 USC 11432 (e)(3).

C. Students Living with Adults other than Parents or Legal Guardians

The non-parent(s) claiming district residency must meet the same criteria as that of parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as stated in Part A. The adult must provide the school with legal guardianship or custodial papers and provide documentation fully explaining the reason(s) (other than school attendance zone or district preference) for this arrangement. The Superintendent or his/her designee will make the necessary factual determinations. Examples of situations where guardianship authority of an adult will be recognized to establish residency of the minor include, but are not limited to, the following:

death or serious illness of the child's parent(s) or guardian(s);

abandonment of the child;

child abuse or neglect;

seriously unstable family relationships or undesirable conditions in the home of the child's parent(s) or guardian having a documented detrimental effect on the child;

students enrolled in recognized exchange programs residing with host families;
and/or

incarceration of a parent.

Any person who has assumed responsibility for the care and custody of the child shall be expected to begin the process of seeking legal guardianship before enrollment of the child and an approximate completion date must be given. Any legal guardianship formed for the purpose of establishing residency for school attendance purposes shall not be recognized.

D. An adult student (at least 19 years of age) may establish a legal residence based on applicable state laws.

DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS AND NON-COMPLIANCE

The requirements as stated above are minimal and the Tuscaloosa County School System reserves the right to require additional documentation and verification at any time. The principal of a school is responsible for ensuring that only students eligible to attend that school are in fact enrolled and attending.

Any suspicion of violation of residence requirements will be investigated. Any case that cannot be resolved by the principal will be referred to the Director of Student Services or his/her designee for additional investigation and further action. Students enrolled in a school without proper residence verification and without an approved transfer will be withdrawn from the school in which they are illegally enrolled.

*Copies of court ordered agreements retristing visitation from non-custodial parent(s) must be filed in the main school office.