Homeless Mom Charged with ‘Stealing’ Son’s Public Education

[Rita]

.

This homeless mother, living out of her van, has been charged with larceny for allegedly stealing her son’s education from a public school. She used her babysitter’s address where the schools were better. ...... I'm curious what you would do if you were in a similar situation?

I could see myself doing what she did.

Homeless Mom Charged with Larceny for ‘Stealing’ Son’s Public Education - COLORLINES


.

 

[scooterbug44]

A homeless woman using someone's mailing address so her kid can go to school doesn't seem so criminal.

Someone with a house using a fake address to be in a better school district I can see them wanting repayment or looking more closely at the circumstances.

My cousin used my grandmother's address to go to a better school, but it could easily be argued that he "lived" there as that's where he was before and after school, where he ate most meals, and where he often slept (and where he has actually lived full time for the last decade).

 

[Rita]

She divides her time between an apartment on Priscilla Circle in Bridgeport, where she is not allowed to stay when the lease holder is away, the Norwalk Emergency Shelter and her minivan. And it sounds like the boy is at her babysitter/friend's often. So where is "home"?
.
The thing is many others do as scooty's cousin and if caught go before a school board and then leave the school. They do not get criminal charges filed against them. And their residencies are likely even more questionable.

.

 

[hkem1]

In Texas, people falsify their address in order to transfer into weaker schools/districts.

 

[Rita]

.
That's definitely not the case in the area of TX where we are. Divorced or separated parents will choose one or the other school location and claim that their child resides there or with a gma or aunt - they choose according to quality of school for the most part. I don't know of anybody choosing because of a weaker school. If they get caught they are asked to attend the proper district school, but are not charged with any crime ...... the kid(s) just get uprooted out of a school they have started.

.

 

[Miss Kitty]

In Texas, people falsify their address in order to transfer into weaker schools/districts.

:misskitty:...maybe for a better shot at a football team, but weaker academics???

 

[hkem1]

:misskitty:...maybe for a better shot at a football team, but weaker academics???

More like a better shot at the flagship state university. And actually, a lot of the football powerhouses in Texas are also the schools with the best academics.

Money does a lot of good things.

 

[Rita]

.
Update - Seems there is a federal law to help protect homeless students:

“The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires states to ensure that homeless children have equal access to education, and to reduce barriers to school stability. “That’s the federal law’s entire point, to look at that child’s best educational interest,” Ms. Duffield says.
The economy is ratcheting up the number of students who don’t have a steady place to live.

Under McKinney-Vento, homelessness includes not just living in shelters, motels, or cars, but also doubling up with other families because of loss of housing or economic hardship.
The law allows students to stay in the school they were attending when they became homeless even if their family is moving around, or to move to the school in the area that has become their primary nighttime residence.

The McDowell case, apparently the first such criminal case in Connecticut, highlights the challenges school districts can face in identifying homeless students.”

With the economy struggling we will likely see more of these situations happening...

Homeless child enrolled in wrong school: What should happen to him? - CSMonitor.com


.