Proof of Residency Audit: Phase 2

In May, Lakota Local Schools announced to its families that the District was beginning a process of auditing proof of residency for all Lakota students. This applies to homeowners, leaseholders and families who have previously submitted residency affidavits.

Due to the size of Lakota, the District’s residency specialist is prioritizing the audit in the following order:

1. Families who have submitted residency affidavits;
2. Leaseholders; and then
3. Homeowners.

The auditing process helps ensure enrollment records remain accurate and that all students are eligible to attend Lakota schools. In order to attend school in Lakota, families must live within the District’s attendance zone. Due to overcrowding and large class sizes, especially at the K-6 level, the District has not accepted open-enrolled students in many years, with the exception of employees’ children. 

Phase one, auditing residency affidavits has been completed and those without proof of residency have been automatically withdrawn. Now, the District is preparing to move forward with auditing leaseholders.

Phase Two: Leaseholders

In the coming weeks, the District’s residency specialist will begin auditing families who have submitted leases when enrolling their students to ensure proof of the most current lease is on file. If a lease is outdated, families will be required to update the current lease in its entirety. Families who are impacted by the second phase of the audit will be contacted directly in the coming weeks with instructions and next steps.

Next Steps

The purpose of these audits is to ensure that students who attend Lakota Local Schools live within the District’s boundaries. In the spring of 2024, the District announced that open enrollment was ending due to overcrowding, with the exception of students who were in grades 7-12 at that time or staff members’ children. 

Families who are affected by phase two of the auditing process do not need to take action right now. The District will reach out directly with detailed instructions and information on how to complete and submit any necessary paperwork.

Families should visit the Lakota Local Schools Welcome Center website for more information about proof of residency requirements.