SPRINGFIELD- When a school board determines a student is a nonresident of a district, parents seeking to appeal a school board’s decision are faced with the financial burden of taking the issue to an appeals court, making it difficult for parents to afford the process.

Under a plan which was approved in the Senate today, parents could soon have an affordable avenue for appealing student residency issues. House Bill 4606 provides a process for appealing the decision of a school board to the regional superintendent of schools for decisions of student residency.

“Parents deserve to have their voices heard in this kind of situation,” State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) said. “Taking residency issues to an appeals court is too costly for families who may face this circumstance. We’re creating a fair process for both the student and the school district.”

Furthermore, the legislation requires a school board to give specific reasons why the board believes a student is a nonresident of a school district.  

The legislation now heads to the governor for consideration.

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