Registration and Establishing Residency

  • In order to register and attend the Newton Public Schools, a student must reside in the City of Newton with a parent/legal guardian. “Residency” is defined as the place where a person has his/her permanent home, i.e., “the place where a person dwells and which is the center of his domestic, social and civil life.”[1] For minor children, the legal residency is presumed to be the legal residence of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who has physical custody of the minor child. Students who are visiting Newton are not eligible to attend the Newton Public Schools. 

     
    Registration Requirements 

    1. Proof of Age (Original Birth Certificate or Passport)

    2. Proof of Immunization (Medical/Health Record)

    3. NPS Registration Form

    4. Proof of Residency and Occupancy (See below) 

     
    Residency Requirements 

    The Newton Public Schools reserves the right to request proof of residency when students are initially enrolled. The types of documents requested as proof of residency are stated below. Newton Public Schools also reserves the right to verify residency either at the time of enrollment or during the academic school year. Since family situations can change, the Newton Public Schools reserves the right to request additional, updated information when warranted. 

    The Assistant Superintendent may initiate an investigation in conjunction with the Youth Officer, including a home visit to verify residency. If a student is found not to be primarily residing in the City of Newton, the student will need to enroll in the school district of the city/town where he/she actually resides. Factors that may trigger an investigation include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in residency not reported immediately to the school where the student is enrolled; mail returned to the school; incomplete or contradictory proofs of residency; or anonymous calls reporting suspected residency violations. 

    Families found to be in violation of these guidelines will face strict penalties, including, but not limited to, immediate dismissal from school; per diem charges for the education and related services accessed as a non-resident which are based on the per pupil cost to the district; and possible legal action. 

    The following documents will be required as a proof of a physical address in Newton when new students are registered. 

    P. O. Boxes will not be accepted with the exception of documented court-related reasons.

    New Home Owners 
     Executed Purchase and Sales Agreement with closing date and mortgage statement. Registration can take place within two weeks of closing/move-in date, AND 
     Two utility bills (gas, electric, telephone, cable) OR current car insurance statement, Massachusetts car registration and excise tax bill (all three).
     
    Established Home Owners 
     Mortgage statement AND
     Two utility bills (gas, electric, telephone, cable) OR current car insurance statement, Massachusetts car registration and excise tax bill (all three).
     
    Renters
     A formal rental or lease agreement indicating the number and names of tenants. Dates of lease with both landlord and tenant signatures is required. Registration can take place within two weeks of the start of the lease/move-in date, AND
     Two utility bills (gas, electric, telephone, cable) OR current car insurance statement, Massachusetts car registration and excise tax bill (all three). 
     
    *Notarized letters will not be accepted in lieu of a lease.
     
    Tenant-at-Will 
     Preregistration forms completed, notarized and returned to NECP, 150 Jackson Road, Newton. Home visit to follow.
     Two utility bills (gas, electric, telephone, cable) OR current car insurance statement, Massachusetts car registration and excise tax bill (all three). 

    *Notarized letters will not be accepted in lieu of a lease. 

     
    Nanny/Housekeeper Living in Employer’s Home 
     Pre-registration forms completed, notarized and returned to NECP, 150 Jackson Road, Newton. Home visit to follow. 
     
    Joint Physical Custody
     In cases of separation or divorce, physical custody agreements must be presented to the district school. Documentation must establish that Newton is the primary residence of the student. 
     

    1 See Teel v. Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, 13 Mass. App. Ct. 345, 348 (1982) 

    NPS rev. 2016