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Only students who are residents of the District may attend a District school without a tuition charge, except as otherwise provided below or in state law. A student’s residence is the same as the person who has legal custody of the student.

A person asserting legal custody over a student, who is not the child’s natural or adoptive parent, shall complete a signed statement, stating:

1. the person has assumed and exercises legal responsibility for the child,
2. the reason the child lives with the person, other than to receive an education in the District, and
3. that the person exercises full control over the child regarding daily educational and medical decisions in case of emergency.

If the District knows the current address of the child's natural or adoptive parent, the District shall request in writing that the person complete a signed statement or Power of Attorney stating:

1. the role and responsibility of the person with whom their child is living, and
2. that the person with whom the child is living has full control over the child regarding daily educational and medical decisions in case of emergency.

A student whose family moves out of the District during the school year will be permitted to attend school for the remainder of the year without payment of tuition.

When a student’s change of residence is due to the military service obligation of the student’s legal custodian, the student’s residence is deemed to be unchanged for the duration of the custodian’s military service obligation if the student’s custodian made a written request. The District, however, is not responsible for the student’s transportation to or from school.

If, at the time of enrollment, a dependent child of military personnel is housed in temporary housing located outside of the District, but will be living within the District within 60 days after the time of initial enrollment, the child is allowed to enroll, subject to the requirements of state law, and must not be charged tuition.

Residence of Students with Disabilities

The residence of a child with a disability, as defined in Section 14-1.02 of the School Code, is determined in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/14-1.11, 5/14-1.11a, and 5/14-1.11b.

Admission of Nonresident Students Pursuant to an Agreement or Order

Non-resident students may attend District schools tuition-free pursuant to:

• A written agreement with an adjacent school district to provide for tuition-free attendance by a student of that district, provided both the Superintendent or designee and the adjacent district determine that the student’s health and safety will be served by such attendance.
• Whenever any state or federal law or a court order mandates the acceptance of a non-resident student.
• According to an intergovernmental agreement

Homeless Children

Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted, even if the child or child’s parent/guardian is unable to produce records normally required to establish residency. Board policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children, and its implementing administrative procedure, govern the enrollment of homeless children.

Challenging a Student’s Residence Status

If the Superintendent or designee determines that a student attending school on a tuition-free basis is a nonresident of the District for whom tuition is required to be charged, the Board shall notify the person who enrolled the student of the tuition amount that is due. The notice shall detail the specific reasons why the Board believes that the student is a nonresident of the District and shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested. The person who enrolled the student may challenge this determination and request a hearing as provided by the School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10 20.12b.

Exception

Admission of a Non-Resident Student Who Intends to Become a Resident

Under certain conditions, the Superintendent or designee may grant an exception to the residency requirement if the person seeking to enroll a student in the District plans to move into the District but will not take possession of the District residence until after the student is scheduled to begin school. A request for an exception must be submitted in writing to the Superintendent or designee, and the person seeking to enroll the student must comply with the following requirements:

1. The person seeking to enroll the student must furnish to the Superintendent or designee proof that the person will take possession of the residence by one of the following:
1. An agreement to purchase residential property in the District, signed by the seller and the person seeking to enroll the student as buyer, which recites a closing date within 30 calendar days after the enrollment date or the first day of the school year, whichever is later; or
2. A copy of a lease, signed by the landlord and the person seeking to enroll the student as tenant, giving the person seeking to enroll the student occupancy of a house or apartment in the District within 30 calendar days after the enrollment date or the first day of the school year, whichever is later; or
3. A copy of an agreement with a building contractor, signed by the contractor and the person seeking to enroll the student, for the construction of a dwelling in the District with a contract including an occupation date of no later than 30 calendar days after the enrollment date or the first day of the school year, whichever is later.
2. The person seeking to enroll the student must tender to the Superintendent or designee a check for one semester’s tuition and a signed Letter of Agreement stating the intention to move into the District within the 30 calendar day window.
3. If the person and the student move into the new residence and present valid residency paperwork, including proof of physical presence in the residence with the intent to make it their permanent home, to the District within 30 calendar days of enrollment or the first day of the school year, whichever is later, the District will return the tuition check in full.
4. If the person and the student move into their new residence after the 30 calendar day period has expired, they will be charged tuition for the period that they were not residents and a prorated amount of their tuition, if any, will be returned.

Under no circumstances may this exception and tuition be extended beyond one full school year.

Adopted: November 10, 1997
Revised: May 3, 1999, February 16, 2010, November 18, 2013; May 22, 2017; September 27, 2021; February 26, 2024