NJ School District Offers Compensation To Parents Who Out Non-Resident Students
BOUND BROOK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The sign in front of Bound Brook High School says 'Enter To Learn,' but it should specify, 'only if you live within district limits.'
As CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported, administrators have been cracking down on students who attend Bound Brook schools without living legally in town. The district has offered parents a $50 gift card for outing non-resident students.
"I think that's crazy. I think all kids no matter where they live still deserve a fair education," Ashley Levandoski said.
"It's really not ethical for parents to send their children to a school district where they don't even live or pay taxes," Dave Dabrowski said.
According to the school district's superintendent, it costs about $14,000 to educate each non-resident student every year.
"The rewards program is simply one way to address concerns raised by community members that the district is not doing enough to address the issue of attendance by non-resident students," the district said in a statement.
"I don't know if I would do it. I really don't know. I would probably leave that more for the people in the school to find that out on their own," one parent said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said that the district needs to re-think the incentive.
"School districts should not be encouraging students to spy on other students," Udi Ofer said.
Now, the district says that if they determine that a student is not eligible to go to a Bound Brook school they will be removed from the district and have to pay a retroactive tuition for the period of illegal attendance.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
