JFAAADMISSION OF
RESIDENT STUDENTS
JFAAA student who is a resident of the District and who meets the applicable age requirements established by state law shall be admitted without payment of tuition to the school in the attendance area in which the student resides and may be admitted as a resident transfer student to another school in the District in accordance with the District's open enrollment policy.
The following students are residents of the District:
A. A student who is in the legal custody of a natural or adoptive parent or other person to whom custody has been granted by a court order and who resides with the parent or other person in the District.
B. A student who is an emancipated minor and whose place of residence is in the District. When determining whether a minor is emancipated, the Superintendent will consider such factors as whether the student is married, financially independent, and residing away from the family domicile with parental consent.
C. A student who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and whose place of residence is in the District.
D. A student who is homeless, and who attended a school in the District at the time of becoming homeless.
E. A student who resides with a family member living in the District while awaiting the outcome of a legal guardianship or custody proceeding if the family provides written documentary proof in accord with 15-821(D).
F. A student whose parent is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within this state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order and the parent provides proof of residency in the District within ten (10) days after the arrival date provided on official documentation.
The residency of a student, natural or adoptive parent, or other person to whom custody of the student has been granted by court order shall be based upon evidence of the individual's physical presence and intent to remain in the District. Such evidence of residency may be determined by using the following verifiable documentation.
Verifiable Documentation
A.R.S. 15-802(B) requires school districts to obtain and maintain verifiable documentation of Arizona residency upon enrollment in an Arizona public school. The documentation required by A.R.S. 15-802 must be provided each time a student enrolls and reaffirmed during the district's annual registration process via the district's annual registration form. The documentation supporting Arizona residency should be maintained according to the school's records retention schedule. This policy is written to assist in meeting the legal requirements of the statute. For members of the armed services, the provision of verifiable documentation does not serve as a declaration of official residency for income tax or other legal purposes. Proof of residency is not required for homeless students. [42 U.S.C.§ 11 432(G)(3)(C)(i)]
In general, students will fall into one of two groups: 1) those whose parent or legal guardian is able to provide documentation bearing their name and address; or 2) those whose parent/legal guardian cannot document their own residence because of extenuating circumstances including, but not limited to, that the family's household is multi-generational. Different documentation is required for each circumstance.
Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who maintains their own residence: The parent or legal guardian must complete and sign a form indicating their name, the name of the school district or school site in which the student is being enrolled, and provide a copy of one of the following documents that bears the parent or legal guardian's full name and residential address or physical description of the property where the student resides (no P.O. Boxes):
A. Valid Arizona driver's license, Arizona identification card or motor vehicle registration
B. Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card
C. Real estate deed or mortgage documents
D. Property tax bill
E. Residential lease or rental agreement (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)
F. Water, electric, gas, cable, or phone bill
G. Bank or credit card statement
H. W-2 wage statement
I. Payroll stub
J. Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona
K. Documentation from a state, tribal, or federal government agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security).
L. Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)
M. Consular identification card that is issued by a foreign government as a valid form of identification if the foreign government uses biometric identity verification techniques, including fingerprint identification and retina scans, in issuing the consular identification card.
Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who does not maintain their own residence: The parent or legal guardian must complete and sign a form indicating their name, the name of the school district or school site, in which the student is being enrolled, and submit a signed, notarized affidavit bearing the name and address of the person who maintains the residence where the student lives attesting to the fact that the student resides at that address, along with one (1) item from the section listed above bearing the name and address of the person who maintains the residence.
Use of and Retention of
Documents by Schools
School officials must retain a copy of the attestations or affidavits and copies of any supporting documentation presented for each student (photocopies acceptable) that school officials believe establish validity. Documents presented may be different in each circumstance, and unique to the living situation of the student. Documents retained by the school district may be used as an indication of residency; however, documentation is subject to audit by the Arizona Department of Education or the District. Personally identifiable information other than name and address (SSN, account numbers, etc.) should be redacted from the documentation either by the parent/legal guardian or the school official prior to filing. Information provided by parents and legal guardians to Arizona public schools is confidential and only used for educational purposes.
Adopted: May 9, 2023
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-802
15-816 et seq.
15-821
15-823
15-823.01
15-824
41-166
41-5001
42 U.S.C. 11301, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001,
as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015
42 U.S.C. 11432
CROSS REF.:
IKEB - Acceleration
JFAB - Admission of Nonresident Students
JFABD - Admission of Homeless Students
JFB - Open Enrollment
JG - Assignment of Students to Classes and Grade Levels
JLCB - Immunizations of Students
JLH - Missing Students
JR - Student Records
JRCA - Request for Transfer of Records