Starting in the 2022-23 school year, Beverly Hills grandparents who have grandchildren that live outside of the city will have the chance to enroll them in the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) through a new Grandparent Permit. At its June 14 meeting, the BHUSD Board of Education approved the first reading of its revised interdistrict attendance policy with a 4-0 vote, with Board member Rachelle Marcus abstaining. Once families are notified, the enrollment period will open to applicants beginning on June 17 at 10 a.m. through July 15.
Historically, interdistrict attendance permits have allowed employees of the district and the City of Beverly Hills, as well as parents on active military duty, to send their children to BHUSD.
To be considered for a permit in the district, the student must obtain written consent from their district of residence and file a district permit application with the documentation at the BHUSD Enrollment Center.
To be eligible for the new permit, the grandparent must have resided within the district’s attendance boundaries for a minimum of 10 years, with proof of grandparent residency verified each year prior to enrollment. To apply, the district is requiring a birth certificate for the student and their parent, three original utility bills, property taxes under the grandparent’s name or lease, and if the lease is expired, a recent canceled check and a renewed lease. Applicants must also complete a residency affidavit.
Grandparent Permits will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and the number of permits available will be based on the percentage of space available per grade, with 25% of available spaces at each grade level open to those with a Grandparent permit. No additional sections will be added, and sections with less than 10 spots available will not have permits offered. Permits will be open to grades TK-12, and the number of permits will be capped at 100 for next year. The Board will review the pilot program again next school year to determine whether they will continue offering it.
“The policy was designed to be cost neutral to the district,” Vice President Noah Margo said. “We’re not going to incur, nor the way it’s written will we incur, any extra costs to taxpayers the way that we have designed the policy. We are opening it up as gently as possible for enrollment purposes.” The district noted that they will not be financially responsible for expenses related to providing transportation for students attending BHUSD on any permit program.
“This community has been so responsive and there is a high interest in this,” Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Laura Chism said. “I want it to run smoothly and run well, so I would ask the board’s permission to let us communicate it out. Give us a few days.”
The district is expected to communicate all application information to the community in a June 15 correspondence before the enrollment period opens.
“Really proud of this permit,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy said. “The shaping of the permit and the language really was based on a lot of feedback from not only the community, potential grandparents with grandchildren that have the opportunity to attend BHUSD, but also really good conversation and dialogue with our Board of Education to help shape policy.”
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 28 at 5 p.m.
