The Coweta County School System is
requiring 2008-09 Affidavits of Residence from the parents or
guardians of all children enrolled in Coweta County Schools.
The affidavits must be completed and filed with schools by
December 18, 2008, in order for students to remain enrolled in
their school.
Letters informing parents and guardians of the requirement were
sent to all student households on September 11, 2008.
This is the third year that Affidavits of Residence have been
required of currently-enrolled students. The affidavits are a
requirement of a Consent Decree entered in federal court between
the Coweta County School System and the United States Justice
Department. The Consent Decree will provide an opportunity to
resolve the 1973 Court Order which governs the Coweta County
School System’s desegregation attempts.
In fulfillment of the requirements of that court order, all
parents, legal guardians, or other lawful custodians of students
attending the Coweta County School System must sign under oath
and deliver to the school his or her student is attending:
- An Affidavit of Residence, and
- Two items from the following
list for address verification:
- property tax
records which indicate the location of the residence;
- mortgage documents
or a security deed which indicates the location of the
residence;
- apartment or home
lease or rent receipt indicating the current address;
- current utility
bill for electricity or utility application for
electricity showing the current address;
- voter precinct
identification card or other voter documentation
indicating the current address.
2008-09 Affidavits of Residence were
included with the letters sent home on September 11. The
current-year affidavits can also be obtained at schools, or
printed from a copy available on the Coweta County School System
website.
Parents are asked to complete the Affidavit of Residence, signed
in the presence of a Notary Public, and submit it with two
pieces of the residency documentation listed above. For parent’s
convenience, all schools employ Notary Publics who will be
available during school hours to assist them.
The Affidavits of Residence must be filed with schools by
Thursday, December 18, 2008, in order for students to remain
enrolled in the second semester starting January 7, 2009.
Some parents, legal guardians, or other lawful custodians who do
not reside in their own home due to unavoidable or emergency
situations have already completed an Affidavit of Residence and
provided the school system with two items for address
verification at the Jackson Street Central Office. No other
documentation is needed at this time from these persons.
Similarly, parents who enrolled a child for the first time in a
Coweta County school this school year (2008-09) had to complete
an affidavit with proof of residency and do not need to file a
second affidavit for that child.
The Consent Decree was issued in United States District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, on
November 9, 2006, to pursue resolution of the 1973 Court Order
which governs the system’s desegregation efforts. The issuance
of the decree followed more than a year of discussions and
negotiations with representatives of the United States Justice
Department, Civil Rights Division.
The decree established a “test period” for the school system to
demonstrate that it is complying with all intended aims of the
Consent Order.
At the end of the two-year period, if the court finds that 27
areas of compliance have been met, then the school system may be
awarded “unitary status.”
To fully comply with the court order, the Coweta County Board of
Education adopted three new policies incorporating the language
and requirements of the Consent Decree, including policy JBCCA
(Student Assignment to Schools), JBCD (Student Transfers), and
JBCDA (Majority-to-Minority Transfers) in 2006.
During the period of the consent decree, the school system must
document school system policies, student assignment to school,
student transfers, hiring practices, educational opportunities
and other matters each year.
Most of the documentation needed is provided through school
system records. In order to document student districting and
school assignment, however, parents have been required to
provide the signed and notarized affidavits of residency to
their school, accompanied by documents offering proof of
district residency.
Parents of enrolled students had to provide the affidavits
during 2006 and 2007, as well. |