5111.1
AR
Administrative Regulation
District Residency
Criteria for Residency
A student shall be deemed to have complied with district residency requirements if they meet any of the following criteria:
- The student's parent/guardian resides within district boundaries. (Education Code 48200)
- The student is placed within district boundaries in a regularly established licensed children's institution, a licensed foster home, or a family home pursuant to a court-ordered commitment or placement. (Education Code 48204)
- The student has been admitted through the district's interdistrict attendance program. (Education Code 48204)
- The student is an emancipated minor residing within district boundaries. (Education Code 48204)
- The student lives with a caregiving adult within district boundaries and the caregiving adult submits an affidavit to that effect. (Education Code 48204)
- The student resides in a state hospital located within district boundaries. (Education Code 48204)
- The student is confined to a hospital or other residential health facility within district boundaries for treatment of a temporary disability. (Education Code 48207)
- The student's parent/guardian resides outside district boundaries but is employed within district boundaries and lives with the student at the place of employment for a minimum of three days during the school week. (Education Code 48204)
- The student's parent/guardian, while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order, is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state. (Education Code 48204.3)
Residency Based on Parent/Guardian Employment (Allen Bill Transfers)
District residency status may be granted to a student if at least one of their parents/guardians is physically employed within district boundaries for a minimum of 10 hours during the school week. No student seeking residency on this basis shall be denied enrollment based on race, ethnicity, sex, parental income, scholastic achievement, or any of the individual characteristics set forth in Education Code 220. However, the Superintendent or designee may deny enrollment into the district if any of the following circumstances is present: (Education Code 48204)
- The additional cost of educating the student would exceed the amount of additional state aid received as a result of the transfer.
- Enrollment of the student would adversely affect the district's court-ordered or voluntary desegregation plan as determined by the Board of Education.
- Other circumstances exist that are not arbitrary.
Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, overcrowding of school facilities at the relevant grade level.
Once a student establishes residency on this basis, they shall not be required to reapply for enrollment in subsequent years. The student may continue to attend school in the district through the highest grade level offered by the district if the parent/guardian so chooses and if at least one parent/guardian of the student continues to be physically employed by an employer situated within district boundaries, subject to the exceptions in items #1-3 above. (Education Code 48204)
The Superintendent or designee may deny a transfer out of the district by a student whose parent/guardian is employed within the boundaries of another district if the difference between the number of students entering and exiting the district on the basis of parent/guardian employment exceeds the limits prescribed in Education Code 48204. (Education Code 48204)
Proof of Residency
The district shall not solicit or collect information or documents regarding the citizenship or immigration status of students or their family members for the purpose of determining residency within the district. (Education Code 234.7)
Evidence of residency may be established by documentation showing the name and address of the parent/guardian within the district, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
- Property tax payment receipts
- Rental property contract, lease or payment receipts
- Utility service contract, statement or payment receipts
- Pay stub
- Voter registration
- Correspondence from a government agency
- Declaration of residency executed by the student's parent/guardian
- If the student is an unaccompanied youth as defined in 42 USC 11434a, a declaration of residency executed by the student
- If the student is residing in the home of a caregiving adult within district boundaries, an affidavit executed by the caregiving adult in accordance with Family Code 6552
A parent/guardian seeking residency status on the basis of their employment within district boundaries shall submit proof of the employment, which may include, but not be limited to, a paycheck stub or letter from their employer listing a physical address within district boundaries. Such evidence shall also indicate the number of hours or days per school week that the parent/guardian is employed at that location.
A parent/guardian who is transferred or pending transfer into a military installation within the state shall provide proof of residence in the district within 10 days after the published arrival date provided on official documentation. For this purpose, they may use as their address a temporary on-base billeting facility, a purchased or leased home or apartment, or federal government or public-private venture off-base military housing. (Education Code 48204.3)
A student whose parent/guardian's departure from the state occurred against their will pursuant to item #10 in the section "Criteria for Residency" above shall be in compliance with district residency requirements if they provide official documentation of the parent/guardian's departure and evidence demonstrating that the student was enrolled in a public school in California immediately before moving outside the state. (Education Code 48204.4)
Any homeless or foster youth or student who has had contact with the juvenile justice system shall be immediately enrolled in school even if they are unable to provide proof of residency. (Education Code 48645.5, 48852.7, 48853.5; 42 USC 11432)
Safe at Home/Confidential Address Program
When a student or parent/guardian participating in the Safe at Home program requests that the district use the substitute address designated by the Secretary of State, the Superintendent or designee may request the actual residence address for the purpose of establishing residency within district boundaries. The Superintendent or designee shall not include the actual address in the student's file or any other public record and shall instead use the substitute address for all future communications and correspondence. (Government Code 6206, 6207)
Also searched as: inscripcion inscripciones enrollment residencia
Legal & Management References
State
5 CCR 432 - Student records
Ed. Code 220 - Prohibition of discrimination
Ed. Code 234.7 - Student protections relating to immigration and citizenship status
Ed. Code 35160.5 - Intradistrict open enrollment
Ed. Code 35351 - Assignment of students to particular schools
Ed. Code 46600-46611 - Interdistrict attendance permits
Ed. Code 48050-48054 - Nonresidents
Ed. Code 48200-48208 - Compulsory education law
Ed. Code 48204 - Residency requirements
Ed. Code 48204.1-48204.4 - Evidence of residency
Ed. Code 48300-48317 - Student attendance alternatives; school district of choice program
Ed. Code 48350-48361 - Open Enrollment Act
Ed. Code 48645.5 - Former juvenile court school students; enrollment
Ed. Code 48852.7 - Education of homeless students; immediate enrollment
Ed. Code 48853.5 - Education of foster youth; immediate enrollment
Ed. Code 48980 - Parent/Guardian notifications
Ed. Code 52317 - Regional occupational program; admission of persons including nonresidents
Fam. Code 6550-6552 - Caregivers
Gov. Code 6205-6210 - Confidentiality of addresses for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, child abduction, and elder or dependent adult abuse
Federal
42 USC 11431-11435 - McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
8 USC 1229c - Immigration and Nationality Act
Management Resources
CA Office of the Attorney General Publication - Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment for All: Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California's K-12 Schools in Responding to Immigration Issues, December 2024
Court Decision - Katz v. Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 47
Court Decision - Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982)
CSBA Publication - Legal Guidance Regarding International Student Exchange Placement Organizations, April 2014
CSBA Publication - Legal Guidance on Providing All Children Equal Access to Education, Regardless of Immigration Status, February 2017
U.S. DOJ & DOE Civil Rights Joint Publication - Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School: Questions and Answers for States, School Districts and Parents, May 8, 2014
U.S. DOJ & DOE Civil Rights Joint Publication - Fact Sheet: Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School, May 8, 2014
U.S. DOJ & DOE Civil Rights Joint Publication - Dear Colleague Letter: School Enrollment Procedures, May 8, 2014
Website - CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services
Website - California Secretary of State, Safe at Home Program
Website - U.S. Department of Justice
Website - California Office of the Attorney General
Website - California Department of Education
Website - CSBA
Website - U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Cross References
3260 AR Fees And Charges
3580 AR District Records
5021 BP Noncustodial Parents
5111 AR Admission
5112.2 AR Exclusions From Attendance
5116 BP School Attendance Boundaries
5116.1 AR Intradistrict Open Enrollment
5117 BP Interdistrict Attendance
5125 AR Student Records
5141 AR Health Care And Emergencies
5145.12 BP Search And Seizure
5145.6 BP Parent/Guardian Notifications
5145.6-E PDF(1) AR Parent/Guardian Notifications
6158 AR Independent Study
6170.1 BP Transitional Kindergarten
6173 AR Education For Homeless Children
6173-E PDF(1) AR Education For Homeless Children
6173.1 AR Education For Foster Youth
6175 AR Migrant Education Program
6183 AR Home And Hospital Instruction
7160 AR Charter School Facilities