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RESIDENCY APPEAL
If a family cannot provide the district-approved proof of address, the family may apply for a Residency Appeal.
Families must schedule an appointment to review their Residency Appeal application. In addition, you must submit the Residency Appeal form and documentation of proof of address.
To schedule a Virtual Residency Appeal:
To schedule an appointment, contact:
Phone: (980) 343-5335
Email: cmsresidencyappeal@cms.k12.nc.us
RESIDENCY APPEAL FORM
Before any student is assigned to attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the parent, legal guardian or sponsor (legal guardianship or sponsorship requires additional documentation from a court or agency) must provide proof of legal residence in Mecklenburg County.
All documents must be pre-printed with the name and Mecklenburg County address of the student's parent, legal guardian or sponsor and presented at registration.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
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Address changes are completed at the current school.
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Parents must provide the appropriate, approved documents to change the address. (listed below)
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If the required documents are not presented, the parent or legal guardian can submit a residency appeal.
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Please read the information regarding moving during the current school year.
Please click here to access the change of address form.
Proof of Residency Documents
ONE (1) of the following documents must be shown:
- Copy of residential deed OR record of most recent residential mortgage statement
- Notarized Residency Affidavit AND a copy of mortgage statement, deed or lease from homeowner/leaseholder affirming tenancy
- Copy of residential lease
- HUD closing statement
AND
ONE (1) of the following documents must be shown:
- Any ONE utility bill or work order dated within the past 30 days, including gas, water, electric, telephone, OR cable
- Valid North Carolina Driver's License OR Valid North Carolina Identification Card
- Dated within the past 30 days: Payroll Stub, Bank Statement OR Credit Card Statement
- Current Vehicle Registration
- Dated within the past year: Vehicle Tax Bill, Property Tax Bill, W-2 OR Medicaid Card
OR
ONE (1) of the following documents must be shown:
- Letter from the approved agency (group home)
- Refugee resettlement letter
- Copy of Charlotte Housing Authority lease
These documents are for address verification and must reflect the current address for registration or change of address. In addition, CMS has an appeal process for families who have difficulty verifying proof of residency so that students can be registered without unnecessary delay. Call Student Placement at 980-343-5335 or the International Center at 980-343-3784 for more information.
Residency Affidavit - This form is available at any CMS school or the Student Placement Office
This residency policy does not apply to homeless students, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act.
For more information about the CMS residency policy, call 980-343-5335.
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Residency Affidavit (Spanish)
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Residency Affidavit Form
Residency Affidavit is for students who are presented and want to enroll and attend a CMS school now.
- Used when a family is residing with another family for issues other than those covered by McKinney Vento
- Renewed yearly
- Can be completed at the school
Before any student is assigned to attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the parent, legal guardian or sponsor (legal guardianship or sponsorship requires additional documentation from a court or agency) must provide proof of legal residence in Mecklenburg County.
All Documents must be pre-printed with the name and Mecklenburg County address of the student's parent, legal guardian or sponsor and must be presented at the time of enrollment.
For Proof of Residency
- Notarized Residency Affidavit form AND a copy of mortgage statement, deed or lease from homeowner/leaseholder affirming tenancy
AND
ONE (1) of the following documents must be shown:
- Any ONE utility bill or work order dated within the past 30 days, including gas, water, electric, telephone, OR cable
- Valid North Carolina Driver's License OR Valid North Carolina Identification Card
- Dated within the past 30 days: Payroll Stub, Bank Statement OR Credit Card Statement
- Current Vehicle Registration
- Dated within the past year: Vehicle Tax Bill, Property Tax Bill, W-2 OR Medicaid Card
Downloadable Residency Affidavit Form
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Frequently Asked Questions - Residency Appeal Process
What if I don't have the required proofs of residency when I enroll?
Enrollment packets will not be accepted without the three required proofs of residency. If you are having difficulty obtaining all three proofs of residence, please gather all the residency documentation and visit the Student Placement Office to speak with a Student Placement Specialist about your situation.What if I don't have a lease and do not live with my landlord or a friend?
If you are a tenant at will ("month-to-month") and do not have a written lease, ask your landlord to complete and sign the residency affidavit -link available at the student placement office or any school. This will fulfill the proof of residency requirement for Column A. Your landlord does not have to be present when you enroll, but the affidavit does have to be notarized. If you are having difficulty obtaining all three proofs of residency, please gather all the residency documentation and visit the Student Placement Office to speak with a Student Placement Specialist about your situation.What if I live with a friend or relative?
If you share housing with a friend or relative, you may use the residency affidavit (available at any school or the student placement office) to fulfill the proof of residency requirement in Column A. Ask your friend or relative to complete and sign the affidavit to affirm your residence. You or your friend or relative will have to provide proofs of residency from Columns B & C. Proofs from Columns B & C must be from the same person.What if I own my home but do not have a copy of the deed?
Contact the financial institution that handles your mortgage or the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds office at 704-336-2442 or meckrod.manatron.com. (office located at 720 E. 4th Street, Room 103, Charlotte, NC 28202)What if I own a home but do not pay a mortgage (i.e., the home is paid for)?
If you no longer pay a mortgage on your home, you may submit a copy of the property deed or a copy of the discharge of mortgage. This will satisfy your proof of residency requirement for Column A.What if utilities are included in my lease?
If any of the utilities are included in your lease, and if this is noted, the lease will suffice for proofs of residency for Columns A and B.What if none of the utilities are in my name?
If you cannot provide proof of residency from Column B, please gather all the residency documentation you have and visit the Student Placement Office to speak with a Student Placement Specialist about your situation.Is a cell phone bill acceptable documentation to satisfy Column B?
Yes.What if I have recently moved and have not received any utility bills yet?
To fulfill the requirements of Column B, you also may submit verification of service or work order from any utility company stating that your service has been ordered or installed.For verification of service, you may contact:
- Electric - Duke Energy (800) 777-9898
- Water - Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities (704) 336-2211
- Gas - Piedmont Natural Gas (704) 525-3882
- Cable - Time Warner (704) 377-9600
Will you accept a printout of my online banking statement?
Yes.What if my family is homeless?
The proof of residency policy does not apply to homeless students and families. Contact the McKinney-Vento-link Liaison at your local CMS school or call 980-343-6169.What if I am an undocumented immigrant?
Any child whose parent or legal guardian lives in Mecklenburg County is guaranteed access to free public education. No family will be denied access to school because of their immigration status. Undocumented immigrant families living with friends or relatives may be considered "homeless" (see above).What if I live in temporary housing while I secure a home (corporate housing, extended stay facility or hotel) and will not have the required proof of residency?
Please bring any proofs of residency, including a copy of the lease, print out from the facility showing dates of stay, etc., to the Student Placement Office for a residency appeal. We will accept a letter from your employer including the current address in lieu of a paycheck stub for Column C.Will documents that I submit to prove residency remain confidential?
Yes. All documents submitted to prove residency will be considered part of their confidential record. CMS will adhere to the standards of confidentiality set forth in state and federal laws to maintain these records. For more information about the confidentiality of student records, refer to FERPA at www.ed.gov.How can I report a suspected violation of the residency policy?
Families, staff, students and others may report possible residency violations by contacting the student's current CMS school.What happens if CMS discovers that I don't live in Mecklenburg County?
Any student discovered not to reside in Mecklenburg County may be withdrawn from CMS immediately.What if I am a current CMS student who has moved and needs to update my address? Do I need to provide three proofs of residency?
Yes.If you have additional questions…
Call the Student Placement Department at 980-343-5335 or Email us at student.placement@cms.k12.nc.us.