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Enrollment Information
To be eligible to enroll in Bibb County Schools, students must reside with their natural parent(s), legal guardian(s), or legal custodian(s) within the boundaries of Bibb County.
Before enrolling students, principals should obtain documentation showing: (1) that the person enrolling the student is the student's natural parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian; and, (2) that the address of the student and parent/guardian is located within the attendance zone for the school.
Students who are 18 years of age may enroll themselves in school provided they present documentation that their residence is located within the attendance zone for the school.
A. Definitions
Designee – means an individual who is employed by the Bibb County School District that the Superintendent has designated to carry out a specific obligation or task referenced herein on behalf of the Superintendent.
Employee - an employee of the Bibb County Board of Education who is classified as full-time in his/her position/job title.
Legal Custodian - the person who has been given legal custody by a court of proper jurisdiction.
Legal Guardian - the person to whom a probate judge has given statutory parental rights.
Parent - the natural or adoptive father or mother. The term parent as used hereinafter shall be inclusive for the terms legal custodian and legal guardian.
Sibling - the natural or adoptive brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or other school-age child residing at the same residence.
Stepparent - the spouse living in the same residence with the student's parent.
B. Proof of Residence
To be eligible to enroll in Bibb County Schools, students must reside full-time with their natural parent(s), legal guardian(s), or legal custodian(s) within the boundaries of Bibb County. Students and their parent(s)/guardian(s)/custodian(s) must be a full-time Bibb County resident for the entire period of enrollment of the child in the Bibb County School System. For the purpose of this policy, a resident is defined as an individual who is a full-time occupant of a dwelling located in Bibb County and who, on any given school day, is likely to be at their stated Bibb County address when not at work or school. A parent/guardian/custodian who owns property in Bibb County, but who does not reside at their stated address, is not considered a resident for enrollment purposes.
Proof of residence is required when a student initially enrolls in a Bibb County school and whenever a change of residence occurs.
1. The principal or designee shall accept the following records as proof of residency:
(a) A lease or rental agreement consisting of written evidence that the agreement is valid and current, and two current utility bills or verification letter from two of the following utility companies: gas, electric, water, sanitation or cable company. Rental agreements must identify the parent/guardian as the tenant of record fiscally responsible for the residence listed in the agreement. Parents/Guardians listed as occupants of a stated residence are not considered tenants of the property for the purposes of enrollment. All records must include the name and street address of the parent/guardian and service addresses must be plainly visible in any utility document provided as proof; OR
(b) A current residential property tax statement, settlement statement, homestead exemption notice, or property deed, and two current utility bills or verification letter from either the gas, electric, water, sanitation or cable company. Parents/Guardians not listed in ownership documents willing to provide evidence of their legal relationship to the owner shall be permitted to use those documents as an authorized representative of the titleholder. All records must include the name and street address of the parent/guardian and service addresses must be plainly visible in any utility document provided as proof; OR
(c) A Bibb County Schools Affidavit of Residency. A parent/guardian who resides full time in Bibb County but is unable to provide the consistent records listed above may complete a Bibb County Schools Affidavit of Residency. The affidavit shall be completed with school system personnel and signed by the parent/guardian. In addition, the legal owner or authorized tenant of the property where the student and parent/guardian reside shall complete and sign the affidavit with school system personnel and provide the documentation required as proof of residence. The affidavit will be in effect until the parent/guardian provides proof of residence as required by this policy, but no longer than the end of the current school year.
2. Construction, Purchase, or Lease of a Permanent Residence in another School Attendance Zone in Bibb County
When a parent and child who reside in Bibb County are in the process of relocating to a permanent residence in another school attendance zone within the county, the child may be enrolled in school based on the attendance zone for the parent's and child's new residence provided the following conditions are met:
(a) If the parent commences construction of a permanent residence on property in Bibb County, the parent shall provide to the principal a recorded property deed, building permit and valid construction contract showing an occupancy date within four months (120 calendar days) from the beginning of the school year or the date the child was enrolled in school.
(b) If the parent enters into an agreement to purchase an existing permanent residence located in Bibb County, the parent shall provide to the principal a copy of a valid and binding contract showing that possession, occupancy and title to the property will be granted within four months (120 calendar days) from the beginning of the school year or the date the child was enrolled in school.
(c) If the parent enters into an agreement for the lease of an existing permanent residence located in Bibb County, the parent shall provide to the principal a copy of a valid and binding contract showing the parent to be the legal tenant and showing that occupancy of the property will be granted within four months (120 calendar days) from the beginning of the school year or the date the child was enrolled in school.
Upon occupancy of the said residence, the parent shall provide to the school the required proof of residence. If the parent and child do not reside in the residence by the end of the four-month period, the child shall be returned to their assigned school based on the parent's current residence. In the event extraordinary circumstances occur which prevent the parent and child from occupying the permanent residence within the four-month period, the parent may apply to the Superintendent or designee for an extension of time. The Superintendent or designee may grant up to an additional sixty (60) days if sufficient evidence is presented to authorize the extension.
Contingency contracts are not considered as meeting the requirements of this policy.
3. Verification and Violation of Policy
A school system representative may visit the address given by any parent/guardian to verify residency. If it is determined that the enrollment of any student is in violation of board of education policy, the following actions may be taken:
1) the student shall be immediately withdrawn from school;
2) the parent/guardian shall be charged tuition for the period of the violation together with all court and legal expenses incurred by the Bibb County School District regarding the matter; and,
3) parties who provide false information to circumvent residency requirements shall be prosecuted for false swearing.
C. Student Assignment to Schools
1. Attendance Zones
Students shall be assigned to specific schools according to the school attendance zones approved by the Bibb County Board of Education. School bus transportation services are provided only for eligible students who attend school within their school attendance zone.
2. Special Education Services
A child who is classified as a Special Education student under the appropriate federal and state statutes and who cannot obtain required special services within the child's school attendance zone shall be assigned to a school where such services are provided in accordance with that student's Individual Education Program (IEP). School bus transportation services for special education students are provided according to each student's IEP.
3. Homeless Students
Bibb County Schools will work with homeless students and families to provide stability in school attendance and other services in the manner required by federal and state law. Bibb County Board of Education Policy JBC-1 and the administrative procedures thereof shall be followed regarding homeless students.
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