Ohio Code 3314.11 – Verification of residency
(A) The governing authority of each community school established under this chapter monthly shall review the residency records of students enrolled in that community school. Upon the enrollment of each student and on an annual basis, the governing authority shall verify to the department of education and workforce the school district in which the student is entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 3314.11
- Child: includes child by adoption. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
The school district may review the determination made by the community school under division (A) of this section.
(B)(1) For purposes of its initial reporting of the school districts in which its students are entitled to attend school, the governing authority of a community school shall adopt a policy that prescribes the number of documents listed in division (E) of this section required to verify a student’s residency. This policy shall supersede any policy concerning the number of documents for initial residency verification adopted by the district the student is entitled to attend.
(2) For purposes of the annual reporting of the school districts in which its students are entitled to attend school, the governing authority of a community school shall adopt a policy that prescribes the information required to verify a student’s residency. This information may be obtained through any type of document, including any of the documents listed in division (E) of this section, or any type of communication with a government official authorized to provide such information.
(C) For purposes of making the determinations required under this section, the school district in which a parent or child resides is the location the parent or student has established as the primary residence and where substantial family activity takes place.
(D) If a community school’s determination under division (A) of this section of the school district a student is entitled to attend under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code differs from a district’s determination, the community school that made the determination under division (A) of this section shall provide the school district with documentation of the student’s residency and shall make a good faith effort to accurately identify the correct residence of the student.
(E) For purposes of this section, the following documents may serve as evidence of primary residence:
(1) A deed, mortgage, lease, current home owner’s or renter’s insurance declaration page, or current real property tax bill;
(2) A utility bill or receipt of utility installation issued within ninety days of enrollment;
(3) A paycheck or paystub issued to the parent or student within ninety days of the date of enrollment that includes the address of the parent’s or student’s primary residence;
(4) The most current available bank statement issued to the parent or student that includes the address of the parent’s or student’s primary residence;
(5) Any other official document issued to the parent or student that includes the address of the parent’s or student’s primary residence. The department shall develop guidelines for determining what qualifies as an “official document” under this division.
(F) When a student loses permanent housing and becomes a homeless child or youth, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a, or when a child who is such a homeless child or youth changes temporary living arrangements, the district in which the student is entitled to attend school shall be determined in accordance with division (F)(13) of section 3313.64 of the Revised Code and the “McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act,” 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.
(G) In the event of a disagreement as to which school district a student is entitled to attend, the community school, after complying with division (D) of this section, but not more than sixty days after the monthly deadline established by the department for reporting of community school enrollment, may present the matter to the director of education and workforce. Not later than thirty days after the community school presents the matter, the director, or the director’s designee, shall determine which district the student is entitled to attend and shall direct any necessary adjustments to payments under section 3317.022 of the Revised Code based on that determination.
Last updated August 8, 2023 at 10:06 AM