501.2 Student Resident Status

Resident Students

Children who are residents of the District community will attend the District without paying tuition.

The residence of a student means the place, abode, or dwelling of the student. Generally, the legal dwelling of minors is the same as their parents. A student may establish a dwelling with someone other than the parents and attend public school in the District without paying tuition if the primary purpose for residing in the District is not for the purpose of obtaining a free public education. Further, students who have reached the age of majority and who are still eligible to attend an Iowa secondary school may declare their residence independent of the residence of the parents.

Each case involving the bona fide residence of a student will be decided upon its individual merits by the Superintendent.

Students who have attained legal age may continue the education program without payment of tuition as long as they are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and are residents of the school District.

Non-Resident Students

Students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school but who are not legal residents of the District may be admitted into the District at the discretion of the Superintendent upon application and payment of tuition. The tuition rate is the current per-pupil cost of the District as computed by the board secretary and as authorized by the Iowa Department of Education.

Resident students whose families move from the District after the start of a semester and who wish to complete the semester in the District may be permitted to attend without the payment of tuition at the discretion of the Superintendent and approval of the Board. Students who plan to open enroll to the nonresident district may complete the school year without approval of the Superintendent or Board. These students, other than students in grades eleven and twelve, must have the recommendation of the principal.

Students in grades eleven or twelve who are no longer residents of the District, but were residents in the District the preceding school year, may continue to attend school until they graduate without the payment of tuition. These students may be required to identify an adult, who resides in the District, identified for purposes of administration.

Nonresident students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and who have evidence they will become legal residents of the District prior to the third Friday in September may be allowed to attend without the payment of tuition.

International Students

Qualified international students may be enrolled and attend school without charge, if they are recommended by the American Field Service or an approved local organization and reside within the boundaries of this District. Proper I-20 forms and/or any other required papers must be submitted to and processed by the District, the student, and the sponsoring organization before an international student can be formally admitted to school.

The District will allow a maximum of three (3) international students per year. The Superintendent has the right to suspend or cancel the privilege of an international student attending school within the District. Organizations not cooperating or not fulfilling their responsibilities on behalf of the international students could also result in termination of the student’s privilege to attend school.

Programs or activities for which foreign exchange students are not eligible are: Driver Education and National Honor Society.

For those items not specifically mentioned above, a foreign exchange student has the same rights and responsibilities as all other students.

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