501.01 - Resident Students

Children who are residents of the school district community will attend the school district without paying tuition.

The residence of a student means the place, abode, or dwelling of the student.  Generally, the legal dwelling of minors is the same as their parents.  However, a student may establish a dwelling with someone other than the parents and attend public school in the school district without paying tuition if the primary purpose for residing in the school district is not for the purpose of obtaining a free public education.  Further, students who have reached the age of majority and who are still eligible to attend an Iowa secondary school may declare their residence independent of the residence of the parents.

Each case involving the bona fide residence of a student will be decided upon its individual merits by the superintendent.

Legal Reference:  Lakota Cons. Ind. School v. Buffalo Center-Rake Comm. School, 334 N.W.2d 704 (Iowa 1983).
                                     Mt. Hope School Dist. v. Hendrickson, 197 N.W. 47 (Iowa 1924).
                                     Oshel v. Creston Comm. School Dist., DPI Admin. Doc. 570 (1981).
                                     33 D.P.I. Dec. Rule 80 (1984).
                                     Iowa Code §§ 257.6; 282.2, .6, .7; 285.4 (2003).
                                    1956 Op. Att'y Gen. 185.
                                    1946 Op. Att'y Gen. 197.
                                    1938 Op. Att'y Gen. 69.
                                    1930 Op. Att'y Gen. 147.

Cross Reference:  102      School District Instructional Organization
                              501      Student Attendance

Approved:  11/01/2004

Reviewed:  07/21/2008, 09/16/2013, 11/19/2018, 11/27/2023

Revised: