Highland Park ISD to Require Proof of Residency
To ensure that nobody who lives outside Highland Park ISD is using the district’s schools, each student’s parents will now be required to submit a water or electric bill to prove their residency.
A Q&A about this new requirement is posted on the district’s website. But one question that goes unanswered is “Why now?” Fortunately, that answer can be found in the packet for last month’s Board of Trustees meeting.
In previous years, District mailings that were returned to sender often signaled a residency concern, but mailings have diminished with Skyward Family Access. That has left the District with a missing tool that may be offset by adding this process.
Makes sense. When the district is having so much trouble accommodating the students who actually live in HPISD, administrators can’t afford to let outsiders slip in.
Better late than never. Each student meant more state money to the district without much effect on overall costs. Finally it is costing more in space required.
Is there still a requirement of how many weekday nights are spent in the district? Many kids have lived elsewhere while one parent has a district address or the family rents an apartment here they do not use but have utilities in their name. Another allowance was made for living elsewhere while a district home was under construction, as if owning property here were good enough. It’s not, is it?
Can students finish a school year here when the family moves during a school year? Or is that just a provision for high school seniors?
I don’t know why this is news. I believe I’ve had to do it each year anyway (or every other year) after registering my kids for school. Is that because I’m in a multi-family dwelling?
@observer based on personal knowledge there is not a weekday requirement. You aren’t suppose to be able to finish the school year if you move unless you are a senior but I have seen it happen several times. HPISD isn’t consistent with the rules on this topic nor do they seem concerned if they do have knowledge you don’t live here unless you play a sport.