JF

SCHOOL ADMISSIONS - RESIDENTS AND NONRESIDENTS

It is the policy of the Smithfield Public Schools to educate all students who are residents of the Town of Smithfield or otherwise allowed to attend based upon applicable law or upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools. Residency shall be determined by the Superintendent of Schools, or his/her designee, in accordance with the applicable Federal and State laws and applicable Department of Education rules, regulations and decisions.

RESIDENT PUPILS

Resident pupils shall attend the school assigned to service that portion of the Smithfield Public Schools in which they legally reside unless the Superintendent, in his/her reasonable discretion, assigns them to attend a different school.

Such assignments may be made for reasons such as, but not limited to, insufficient space at a particular school site.

NONRESIDENT PUPILS

Nonresident pupils may be permitted to attend the Smithfield Public Schools upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools and subject to approval by the School Committee. Such pupils may include children of employees of the District and pupils of parents who are in the process of establishing residency in the Smithfield Public Schools.

The Superintendent of Schools shall develop a protocol to assist the School Committee in determining whether a non-resident pupil should be granted access to the District.

A. TUITION FOR NON-RESIDENT PUPILS

Payment will be made in advance of the first day of attendance. Minimum payment will be for a full year of attendance or prorated for any remaining portion thereof. The annual charge is calculated to the nearest hundred dollars ($100.00) of the per capita pupil cost for school operation as reasonably determined by the District for the immediate prior year plus the cost of any special services as determined by the District.

B. REBATES OF TUITION

Any rebates of tuition payments for pupils leaving the District shall be computed and paid on a quarterly basis. No rebate will be made for any quarter when the student has been in attendance for a minimum of five weeks of that quarter.

PUPILS PENDING RESIDENCY

Students, pending the establishment of residency in the Town of Smithfield, may be permitted to attend the Smithfield Public Schools upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, approval of the School Committee, and based upon parental/guardians acceptance of such terms as proscribed by the Superintendent of Schools.

The Superintendent of Schools may, in his/her discretion, require appropriate evidence establishing imminent residency in the District, including, but not limited to a signed purchase and sales agreement, a signed residential construction contract, or a signed lease agreement.

A. TUITION FOR PUPILS PENDING RESIDENCY

Payment will be made in advance of the first day of attendance. Minimum payment will be for a full year of attendance or prorated for any remaining portion thereof. The annual charge is calculated to the nearest hundred dollars ($100.00) of the per capita pupil cost for school operation as reasonably determined by the District for the immediate prior year.

B. REBATES OF TUITION

Rebates for any pupil, who establishes Smithfield residency during the course of the school year, shall be computed at one-quarter (1/4) of the annual basic charge. No rebate will be made for any quarter when the student has been in attendance for a minimum of five weeks of that quarter.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

A. Except as otherwise provided by law or by agreement, a student shall be enrolled in the school system of the town wherein he or she resides. A student will be deemed to be a resident of the town where his or her parents reside.

B. If the student’s parents reside in different towns, the student shall be deemed to be a resident of the town in which the parent having the actual custody (physical placement) of the student resides.

C. In cases where a student has no living parents, has been abandoned by his or her parents, or when parents are unable to care for a student on account of parental illness or family breakup, the student shall be deemed to be a resident of the town where the student lives with his or her legal guardian, natural guardian, or other person acting in loco parentis to the student.

D. The appointment of a guardian of a student shall not change a student’s residency unless the student takes up residence with the guardian and unless the guardian has been appointed for a substantial reason other than to change the student’s residence for the purpose of enrolling the student in another school district.

E. A resident student who changes his or her residency during the course of a semester shall be allowed to complete that semester in the Smithfield Public Schools. If the student is a senior or about to enter his or her senior year, the student shall be allowed to complete his or her senior year in the Smithfield Public Schools. The Smithfield Public Schools shall not be required to provide transportation to a student who exercises this option.

F. Upon the approval of the Superintendent, a nonresident student who is the child of an employee of the Smithfield Public Schools, may be permitted to attend the Smithfield Schools. The annual charge is calculated to the nearest hundred dollars ($100.00) of 50% of the per capita pupil cost for school operation as reasonably determined by the District for the immediate prior year plus the cost of any special services as determined by the District.

The nonresident teachers will pay, in entirety, any extra costs beyond the regular school program that are directly attributable to their children.

Students will be approved or denied on an individual basis by the Superintendent after a complete review of the student’s record.

Any student accepted into this program will be given all of the rights, privileges, responsibilities, and requirements of any other student in the school district.

Request for participation in this program must be made annually by the teacher on behalf of their child and, therefore, would require the annual review and approval of the Superintendent prior to continuing the following year.

The nonresident staff will be permitted to enroll their child only during the time of employment in the Smithfield Public Schools.

The nonresident staff will be responsible for the transportation of their children to and from school.

Nonresident staff will not be allowed to enroll any child who is currently excluded by expulsion from another public or private school.

The Superintendent of Schools, in conjunction with the Principal of the school at which the student attends, can, with a minimum of two weeks’ notice, terminate the program with an individual student for just and appropriate causes as determined by the Superintendent.

TEMPORARY POLICY CHANGE FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR*

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Superintendent shall be allowed to register the elementary-aged children of Smithfield staff under the following conditions:

  • Tuition will be waived.

  • Enrollment is dependent upon space in that grade/classroom/program.

  • Transportation is the responsibility of the parents.

  • The family agrees to uphold all school and district policies, including COVID-related procedures.

  • The student will be dis-enrolled at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.


ADOPTED: June 24, 1996

REVISED: February 22, 1999, August 17, 2015, August 17, 2020*