§ 16-64-1 Residency of children for school
purposes. –
Except as provided by law or by agreement, a child shall be enrolled in the
school system of the city or town where he or she resides. A child shall be
deemed to be a resident of the city or town where his or her parents reside. If
the child's parents reside in different cities or towns the child shall be
deemed to be a resident of the city or town in which the parent having actual
custody of the child resides. In cases where a child has no living parents, has
been abandoned by his or her parents, or when parents are unable to care for
their child on account of parental illness or family break-up, the child shall
be deemed to be a resident of the city or town where the child lives with his
or her legal guardian, natural guardian, or other person acting in loco
parentis to the child. An emancipated minor shall be deemed to be a resident of
the city or town where he or she lives. Children placed in group homes, in
foster care, in child caring facilities, or by a Rhode Island state agency or a
Rhode Island licensed child placing agency shall be deemed to be residents of
the city or town where the group home, child caring facility, or foster home is
located for the purposes of enrollment, and this city or town shall be
reimbursed or the child's education shall be paid for in accordance with §
16-64-1.1. In all other cases a child's residence shall be determined in
accordance with the applicable rules of the common law. Where a child is a
resident in a dwelling which lies in more than one municipality, the parent(s)
or guardian shall choose which school district the child shall attend without
payment of costs as tuition.
(P.L. 1982, ch. 367, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 169, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 68,
§ 2.)