California law requires all students to attend the school district in which their parents/guardians reside unless a specific statutory exception applies. (Education Code 48200, et seq.)  In California, a person may have only one primary residence.  The Ross Valley School District (“District”) is required to take appropriate steps to ensure that students attending its schools satisfy the applicable residency laws.  

In May 2018, California School Boards Association (CSBA) revised Board Policy (BP) and Administrative Regulation (AR) 5111.1 – District Residency based on recent changes to CA Education Code, such as protections for immigrant students and families.  Therefore, RVSD revised our BPAR 5111.1 - DISTRICT_RESIDENCY to be in compliance.  At the same time, the district reviewed our procedures and practices to provide families more options to be able to accurately and truthfully demonstrate residency.  Because the district does not want to cause undue burden to families who rent, we made some changes to our Proof of Residency so that families can more easily demonstrate residency.

Each student must verify residency within the Ross Valley School District boundaries at the time of registration and within 10 calendar days any time his/her residency changes or if residency is in question in order to attend or continue to attend a school in the Ross Valley School District.  

Additionally, all families need to annually complete the Declaration of Residency form, which has been developed to verify and update student information.  Declaration of Residency also serves as a reminder that it is a requirement to update Proof of Residency if the residency address has changed since residency documentation was last provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a student need to verify residency to attend school in RVSD?

If your student is new to Ross Valley, you will verify residency at the time of registration.  The Verify of Residency form is included in the New Student Registration Packet.  

If your student changes residency after s/he registers, please review BPAR 5111.1 - DISTRICT_RESIDENCY. You may download the Verification of Residency form (English | Spanish) or you may pick up a hard copy at any school site or the district office.  The form outlines required documentation.  Bring the completed form and required documentation to your child’s school within 10 days of changing residences.  If you have more than one child and they attend different schools, you only need to provide Verification of Residency at one site, and staff will provide a copy to the other school/s.

What is needed to Verify Residency in RVSD?

As outlined in the Verification of Residency form (English | Spanish), there are two categories from which we accept proof and multiple document options in each.

If you rent/lease and the original agreement has expired but you still reside at that address and pay month-to-month, we will accept the original lease agreement along with a jurat notarized Landlord/Lessor Supplemental Affidavit and the most recent rent/lease payment.  Please contact the school of residency for the Affidavit.

If you are unable to provide an original rental/lease agreement, you have a lease extension, you sub lease, or you pay month-to-month, we will accept a jurat notarized Landlord/Lessor Supplemental Affidavit and the most recent rent/lease payment.  Please contact the school of residency for the Affidavit.

If you reside with friends/family and do not pay rent, we will accept a jurat notarized Landlord/Lessor Supplemental Affidavit.  Additionally, the individual(s) you live with must provide 1 proof from Category II. Please contact the school of residency for the Affidavit.

As an option to assist families in verifying residency, a home visit may be scheduled.  Your school of residency can provide you with scheduling information.

What if my student has changed addresses but still resides within District boundaries, and I want my child to attend the school where we registered or where s/he has attended?

If your child no longer resides in a school’s attendance boundaries, but still resides within District boundaries, and you would like your child to remain at the school he/she has registered to attend or has been attending, an application for an Intradistrict Permit will need to be submitted and approval granted to be able to attend the desired school.  Permits are granted based on space available at the desired school (ie. grade, applicable program, and school).  For more information on Intradistrict attendance, please click here.

What if my student no longer resides within District boundaries, and I want my child to attend or continue to attend a school in RVSD?

If your child no longer resides within District boundaries and you would like your child to remain at the school he/she has registered to attend or has been attending, an application for an Interdistrict Permit will need to be submitted and approval granted to be able to attend the desired school.  Permits are granted based on space available at the desired school (ie. grade, applicable program, and school).  For more information on Interdistrict attendance, please click here.
 

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