All Around Pennsauken

As spring is finally here, the Pennsauken School District is already busy making plans for the upcoming school year. The flurry of activity relating to the preparation for the 2015-2016 school year begins with registration for students. On April 15, 2015, the school district will hold its annual registration event for the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs. Registration for students in other grade levels will continue on a rolling basis throughout the summer.

Each student attending Pennsauken Public Schools must be registered in the district prior to attending school. The purpose of registration is to ensure that each student who is receiving an education in the Pennsauken School District is eligible under district policy and state law.

Discussion of registration often brings to the forefront issues regarding the residency requirements for enrolled students. Residency issues continue to be a topic of concern for members of the Board of Education, school district administration, and the citizens of Pennsauken Township. It is our duty as Board members, in conjunction with the administration, to make certain that we are using the resources of the district to educate the students who are eligible to attend our schools, as defined by state law.

Last year, the Board of Education, in an effort to monitor registration and residency, set aside funds in the annual school budget specifically to address this need. This money is being used to create a centralized registration office, which is currently in development. The funds allocated will also be used to hire additional staff, including a second district investigator who will examine claims regarding students who may be illegally attending our schools.

In addition, after consulting with neighboring school districts and reviewing state law, the Board of Education Policy Committee wrote a new district residency policy and regulation. This mandated policy, entitled Eligibility of Resident/Non-Resident Pupils, was adopted by the Board on July 24, 2014. The residency policy clearly defines, according to state law, who is eligible to attend school in our district. The regulation outlines the procedure that must be followed in order to register children in the district.

The Policy also states that any individual who has fraudulently enrolled a student in the district can be held liable for the tuition associated with educating a student in our district, along with removal of the student from school. Other consequences, including fines, are possible. The penalties associated with fraudulent enrollment can also extend to individuals who fraudulently signed an affidavit swearing that the family lives in Pennsauken. For example, a landlord or a family member who owns a home in Pennsauken and fraudulently claims that the student lives with them, would be subject to this policy as well. All of the penalties, as well as those individuals who can be potentially affected, are clearly defined by NJ State law.

Information pertaining to the details of this policy and regulation can be requested by any Township resident or any individual with an interest in Pennsauken Schools by contacting the Pennsauken Board of Education offices. As with all of our policies currently undergoing review and revision, this policy will be available on the Pennsauken School District website in the near future.

The Pennsauken Board of Education takes residency and registration issues very seriously. While we understand that all children in NJ are entitled to a free, public education, the law is clear that the students must live in or legally be eligible to attend school in the district. We ask that anyone who has suspicion of a residency violation report it to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools. Working together, we can ensure that all children enrolled in our schools are eligible to attend.

Board Bit Of The Month

Did you know… the Pennsauken School District transports over 4,000 students per day?