School district cites plate-reader data to deny enrollment

"Sánchez told reporters that she had filed all the required documents with the district to prove residency, including a mortgage statement, vehicle registration, utility bills, and her driver's license, but the district repeatedly denied enrollment after citing license plate recognition data that it said showed her vehicle appearing overnight at Chicago addresses during July and August of last year."

"It's not clear how it was determined that sightings of Sánchez's car at Chicago addresses over more than two months were enough to challenge her residency claim for her daughter's school enrollment. It's also not clear whether Sánchez was given the opportunity to appeal the decision, especially if automated license plate reading technology was involved in the determination."

"A look at the district's residency web page suggests Thomson Reuters Clear is the software used to verify residency for Alsip district students. NBC 5 further found a contract between Thomson Reuters Clear and the district in its own investigation."

A school district in Alsip, Illinois is using license plate recognition data to verify student residency for enrollment purposes. One parent submitted standard residency documentation including mortgage statements, utility bills, and vehicle registration, but the district repeatedly denied her daughter's enrollment. The district cited license plate reader data showing the family's vehicle at Chicago addresses during a two-month period. The parent explained the vehicle was loaned to a relative during that time. The district appears to use Thomson Reuters Clear software for residency verification. Questions remain about the criteria used to determine residency challenges and whether parents have adequate appeal opportunities when automated technology is involved in enrollment decisions.

Read at Theregister