It’s not surprising to hear about a student who claims to live in Catonsville in order to attend CHS. In order to combat this county-wide problem, BCPS implemented a new residency policy for 6th graders and freshmen.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the County Council recognized that the community felt that there was an “inordinate number of ineligible nonresident students” enrolled in Baltimore County schools in 2004. Two years ago, the county came up with a residency policy for students entering sixth and ninth grade that became active this May.

The new policy required parents to provide a photo ID, a lease or deed for their place of residence, and three pieces of mail within a certain time period in order for them to be enrolled in school. Students who didn’t have the right documents at the first visit were asked to return for a second visit. Freshman Ian Cahill was one affected student.

“It wouldn’t have taken such a long time if we didn’t have to go back again,” said Cahill, who went over the summer.

Freshman Brady Stevens encouraged his parents to take care of residency verification in May when he was still in middle school. He wasn’t the only one. According to guidance secretary Kaye Leonard, many students took the opportunity to beat the rush before summer really started.

“When we got the transcripts from the middle schools we received them in two piles, one for students who had already verified their residency and another for those who hadn’t,” explained Ms. Kaye Leonard.

Many freshmen thoughts the process could be made much easier. Some felt that it shouldn’t have taken place at all.

“They could have looked at my middle school records,” said freshman Amber Carson.

However, some students thought it was a necessary action in order for them to weed out students who belonged elsewhere.

“You don’t want your school to be the one that’s overcrowded with people that should be going to another school,” said Stevens.

There was a consequence for students who failed to come in before school started. Freshmen were not allowed to come to school until they had verified their residency with the necessary documents. However, the class of 2012 proved to be responsible.

“Overall the 9th graders did really well. Everyone was able to verify residency except for four,” said secretary Veronica Williams.

Even though the county expects the policy to be effective, it will not take place of individual investigations, but is expected to make it much harder for students fraudulently enrolled.

“The school system has been working with the county to reinforce that we are diligent about our residency,” said executive director of student support services for Baltimore County Dale Rauenzahn in an interview with The Baltimore Sun.