Cartersville, Bartow Schools Crack Down On Out-of-District Students

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CARTERSVILLE, GA -- The Cartersville City and Bartow County schools systems are joining forces with Bartow County District Attorney Rosemary Greene to focus on non-resident students "improperly" attending the two school systems.

Non-resident or out-of-district students are those who live in a different school district than the one they attend, such as a student who does not reside in Cartersville's city limits, but attend Cartersville City schools.

Both the Cartersville City and Bartow County school systems allow non-resident students; however, they are required to apply to the school system as an out of district student and meet each system’s respective requirements to attend.

Both systems, with the help of Greene and her office, will begin the process of identifying parents and/or guardians of students who have not followed protocols to attend out-of-district schools. The efforts were publicly announced during an April 20 press conference.

“We are more than happy to admit out of district students; we just ask that their parents or guardians complete the proper procedures," said Bartow Schools Superintendent Dr. John Harper.

The consequences for those found to be improperly attending will be immediate dismissal from the school without the opportunity to return. Additionally, parents/guardians will be arrested and referred for prosecution for filing false documents under Georgia code 16-10-20.1.

This felony offense is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both, Bartow County schools said.

"We welcome out of district students who meet our criteria and register properly," said Cartersville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hinesley. "When students attend Cartersville City Schools without following the correct procedures, it creates a strain on our resources, such as transportation, class sizes and student services.”

Both school systems have agreed to offer amnesty to students who come forward and admit they are attending without the proper permission. However, they must come forward within 14 days of the April 20 press conference on April 20. Students will have until Monday, May 2 to complete the process to remain at the school.

No amnesty will be given to those who are identified through the school systems’ investigations.

Information on the application process can be found at each school system’s website.

The application process to attend Bartow County schools as an out of district student for the 2016-17 is open through Friday, April 22. The process to attend Cartersville City Schools as an out-of-district student for the upcoming school year is open through July 22.

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Photo: Dr. John Harper, left, and District Attorney Rosemary Greene, right, listen as Dr. Howard Hinesley discusses the systems' out-of-district policy. Credit: Bartow County Schools