Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 12:17:33 GMT -5
Let another family use your address so their child could attend your local school? (How does that even work?)
A friend of mine lives in a bad, bad school district. Something like 85% of the kids are on free/reduced price meals. Over half are english learners. It's about 75% hispanic in the lower grades and her child is white. Fewer than half the students meet basic competency on tests. There is one charter school in the whole city and it only takes 20 kids a year. She's afraid that as a native english speaker he'll be overlooked in school.
They can't sell their home because the value has fallen so much (they put 20% down.)
Meanwhile my local school (a few blocks away) has posted outstanding test results for all their demographics. Their ESL students, disabled students, and minority students post test results way above the average. We pay our property taxes but DS won't be attending - we're sending him to a private school.
She hasn't asked me to use my address - I'm just toying with the idea. What do you folks think?
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Feb 24, 2011 12:19:42 GMT -5
I know many will say "OMG, it's such fraud", yada yada yada, but I would do it. I can give you my reasons if you are interested.
Lena
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 12:20:41 GMT -5
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Taxman10
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Post by Taxman10 on Feb 24, 2011 12:20:56 GMT -5
I think the schools get pretty mad if they find out. That being said, I know of people who've done it/do it, and no-one's ever said anything.
Just make sure the kid keeps in the info on the down-low
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hsclassic
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Post by hsclassic on Feb 24, 2011 12:21:02 GMT -5
I've done this for my nephew for a baseball league, but not for school. For family, I would offer it and do it (could always claim the family lived with me). For friends, I wouldn't offer, and would give it significant consideration only if they asked.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Feb 24, 2011 12:23:56 GMT -5
Depends on what your school district is like. I knew all sorts of people who did this when I was growing up. At the same time, I posted a thread maybe a month or so ago related to a woman who was found guilty of a felony for using her father's address to get her girls into a better school district. And a quick google search on the subject shows that more and more school districts are clamping down on it. For the most part, it shows that the parents doing the lying are the ones facing charges, but in the case I referenced, the grandafther whose address was used (so that would be you in your case) was also convicted on felony grand theft charges for "stealing" from the school district.
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patchwork150
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Post by patchwork150 on Feb 24, 2011 12:25:51 GMT -5
A friend of mine lives in a bad, bad school district. Something like 85% of the kids are on free/reduced price meals. Over half are english learners. It's about 75% hispanic in the lower grades and her child is white. Fewer than half the students meet basic competency on tests. what age is the child? And the only 'bad' thing I can see is that the kids don't meet competency tests, but it may be the language barrier. The kids that don't speak english will pick it up and their grades will improve if that is true. There is nothing wrong with 75% of the kids being hispanic or recieving reduced meal prices. You sound extremely judgemental and racist the way you put it. You never mention violence, danger, etc.
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Plain Old Petunia
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Post by Plain Old Petunia on Feb 24, 2011 12:26:21 GMT -5
I think it is absurd that any child should be stuck with a subpar school, and don't fault any parent for doing whatever it takes to get their child into a school they believe is better. That said, I find it rather offensive that being predominately hispanic is one of the reasons this particular school is considered "bad, bad, bad".
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Feb 24, 2011 12:27:03 GMT -5
Someone here got in big trouble for this. Pretty big fine, on their record. This was for the parent of the child who lied about where they lived, not for the person at the address.
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patchwork150
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Post by patchwork150 on Feb 24, 2011 12:31:33 GMT -5
I think it is absurd that any child should be stuck with a subpar school, and don't fault any parent for doing whatever it takes to get their child into a school they believe is better. That said, I find it rather offensive that being predominately hispanic is one of the reasons this particular school is considered "bad, bad, bad". Karma to you. We are like minded ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 12:34:47 GMT -5
Have you checked with the school district to see if they offer any scholarship type programs for people outside the district? Our school district is the most desirable in the area and they offer 5 spots each year for out of district students. The students have to pay a minimal tuition and demonstrate transportation to and from the school - but they can get in without paying the giant tuition normally charged. Their grades also must merit this opporunity.
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sil
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Post by sil on Feb 24, 2011 12:35:12 GMT -5
Yes, but....
....I'd make the situation somewhat defensible. The child would have a bed in my home, and would stay with us at least on some school nights. I imagine that if the school nearest to the child's home is that bad, the neighborhood is also pretty bad, so the child would be staying with us for a variety of reasons.
If I did not love the child enough to make room for him/her as another family member in my home, I would not take the risk of defrauding my local school district
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 12:37:54 GMT -5
I should have been more clear in my post. My local school (based on test results) does a far better job of educating ESL students and minorities than does my friends school district. So overall it would appear that the instruction is better in my local school. Percentage of minority and low income students in a school does matter - concentrating the children with the most need for help, with parents who by circumstance or inclination have less time to be involved, with burned out teachers is terrible for education.
And being in a minority at any school (whatever your ethnic background) can be an issue. My little korean cousin kept getting beat up by the hispanic and black kids at her local pre-k. Pretty rough crowd for four year olds.
My friend's son will be five next year.
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nogooddeed
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Post by nogooddeed on Feb 24, 2011 12:40:06 GMT -5
Just curious. Did your friends not check on the quality of the school system before they bought their house?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 12:41:18 GMT -5
They thought they'd have the funds to move by the time their kids were old enough to go to school.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 24, 2011 12:44:16 GMT -5
I think you are doing a fine thing. I used to teach school, at a good one where I wouldn't put my kids in now. Public schools are changing and not for the better. Teachers, a lot of them, resent the constant crap from admin and lousy parents to civilize their darlings. A teacher's job is to EDUCATE not raise your child because you got extra money for having it. School is not your free daycare, either, btw. But it's treated as such. Be careful that the kid behaves and that you cover your tracks. Is the mom a single mom? Does she have any other kids? If you were a relative, it'd be easier and you will need her to get mail at your address. There's other ways you'll need to know. PM me if you'd like more info.
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Urban Chicago
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Post by Urban Chicago on Feb 24, 2011 12:45:22 GMT -5
Well, not every school can be above average, even if they all improve!
That said, I would be exploring other options too. I bet part of the reason they live where they do is that housing prices were cheaper. Can they use some of that savings for private school (even if that means another religion)?
If all else failed, yes I'd do it, but be aware that "good" school districts don't just take your word for the residence anymore.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Feb 24, 2011 12:48:46 GMT -5
The school might not be "bad, bad bad", but I wouldn't want my kid to go to school where 75% of children not only had a different native language, but the same native language. Can you honestly tell me that you don't see how it could be problematic on two levels?
One - inside the classroom the teacher might have to spend a lot of extra time with kids who might not understand English and therefore will be taking longer to learn things.
Two - outside of the classroom, where 15 out of 20 kids speak a different language among themselves, your white kid is left with only potentially 5 kids to play/interact with.
Lena
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 24, 2011 12:52:19 GMT -5
Are you even sure the mom will let you take her child?
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patchwork150
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Post by patchwork150 on Feb 24, 2011 12:55:41 GMT -5
The school might not be "bad, bad bad", but I wouldn't want my kid to go to school where 75% of children not only had a different native language, but the same native language. Can you honestly tell me that you don't see how it could be problematic on two levels? One - inside the classroom the teacher might have to spend a lot of extra time with kids who might not understand English and therefore will be taking longer to learn things. Two - outside of the classroom, where 15 out of 20 kids speak a different language among themselves, your white kid is left with only potentially 5 kids to play/interact with. Lena I see it as a positive in many ways. Exposure to a different language is never a bad thing, this child has a much better chance at learning spanish now at this early age with other children speaking it. Exposure to a different culture is not a bad thing either. There are plenty of things that this child could learn, and becoming friends with the other children is not necessarily a bad thing. The mom should encourage it.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 24, 2011 12:59:25 GMT -5
Well, that's okay if she wants her child to be part of some great social experiment but it doesn't sound like she's too thrilled about it. I'd worry less about elementary school unless it's unsafe. Mom can supplement his learning at home. Good parents do anyway realizing there's only so many hours in a day and only one teacher per 20-30 students.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 13:07:31 GMT -5
Absolutely not. It's fraud, pure and simple. I've paid enough sky-high property taxes to support good school systems that I would resent kids being there when they have no right to be. In what way is this fair to other parents who play by the rules, either by keeping their kids in their legal district or by paying private school tuition?
The Spanish language part wouldn't bother me at that age if the kids were friendly and open to playing with someone who didn't know the language that well- kids pick up languages so quickly at that age it could be good for him. It does sound, though, like the overall academic environment isn't good, and I could see why your friends might be concerned.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Feb 24, 2011 13:07:54 GMT -5
Before I start typing my long response to this - have you or anyone you know have actually experienced this first-hand?
Lena
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 13:10:59 GMT -5
Before I start typing my long response to this - have you or anyone you know have actually experienced this first-hand? One anecdote although the circumstances were a little different- in my son's first-grade class there was a little boy whose parents were Japanese- they were over in the US for a few years for Dad's job and the boy spoke pretty limited English. Luckily, another boy in the class was fully bilingual. They became friends and occasionally had whispered conversations in class as one bilingual one gave the other quick translations- but at the end of the school year the new kid was speaking decent English.
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Feb 24, 2011 13:11:27 GMT -5
No I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to put the ability to provide for my family and their well being on the line so someone else could send their kid to a certain school. By well being I don't mean safety I mean in regards to the fact that if I got in trouble and something happened no one will pay our bills. I've got a professional license and if I were found guilty of fraud I would lose that and probably my job.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Feb 24, 2011 13:12:07 GMT -5
"The school might not be "bad, bad bad", but I wouldn't want my kid to go to school where 75% of children not only had a different native language, but the same native language. Can you honestly tell me that you don't see how it could be problematic on two levels?"
I wouldn't want my kid to go there either, but then again I wouldn't be buying homes in areas that I knew i wouldn't want my kids to attend school in based on some ignorant plan that I'll just do something different later.
Someone doing a terrible job of planning their life isn't justified in committing fraud in order to combat their poor planning.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 24, 2011 13:13:33 GMT -5
My son's pre-school had parents who adopted some Chinese children, brother and sister. Started them in DS's preschool and by winter break, they were speaking English. Major immersion!!!!
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Feb 24, 2011 13:15:04 GMT -5
Taking about fair is not really fair in itself. Is it fair that some school are deteriorate and are not safe/educational places they should be? Is it fair to expect parents who care about kid's education to pay for private schools just bc they have no control over how the "local" school is run, who goes there and the quality of teachers and education in that school? Is it fair that they have to follow the rules that were created by the system that is failing miserably? Nothing about this is fair.
So, until there is a country-wide movement to change this system entirely parents are faced with difficult decisions. No, it's not fair.
Lena
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Feb 24, 2011 13:16:54 GMT -5
Athena,
I am sure you realize how different that situation was.
Lena
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Feb 24, 2011 13:22:33 GMT -5
"Is it fair to expect parents who care about kid's education to pay for private schools just bc they have no control over how the "local" school is run, who goes there and the quality of teachers and education in that school?"
It's fair in that we don't force you to live anywhere. You have free choice to live somewhere else if you don't like the particular district you are in. Your choices however, are limited by your previous choices.
You have full control over how your "local" school is run by picking the school district you want to live in and have as your local school. It's not as if there is 1 good school district in the entire world, there are thousands upon thousands in the country. If you choose to try to skimp out on housing costs, you're not then justified in defrauding a school district that you weren't willign to pay to be a part of.
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