Do school districts pick on poor parents?

In a report on a homeless Connecticut woman who is facing criminal charges for using a false address to enroll her son in a public school, the Associated Press asks whether school districts and local governments are treating poor parents unfairly by selectively prosecuting them. Tanya McDowell, whose case we’ve written about extensively, appears in court in Norwalk today to face charges of felony larceny for enrolling her 5-year-old in school using her friend’s public housing address. (The city, not the school district, is bringing the charges against McDowell.)

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Mom in Conn. school residency case back in court

A homeless single mother charged with intentionally enrolling her son in the wrong Connecticut school district asked prosecutors on Wednesday to drop the case so school officials can handle the matter administratively, the Associated Press reports. Tanya McDowell deserves to be treated the same as 26 other families who were caught this year for doing the same thing in Norwalk schools, said her lawyer, Darnell Crosland…

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Conn. mom pleads not guilty over school enrollment

McDowell's supporters say her son attended preschool in Norwalk and therefore qualifies to attend its public schools.

A homeless single mother who lives in her van pleaded not guilty Wednesday to stealing nearly $16,000 worth of education for her son by enrolling the kindergartener in her baby sitter’s school district.

Tanya McDowell, 33, was arraigned in Norwalk, where she was arrested April 14 on felony charges of committing and attempting to commit first-degree larceny.

Prosecutors say McDowell used her baby sitter’s address to enroll her son in Norwalk schools in the fall but should have registered the boy in nearby Bridgeport, a significantly poorer urban district and the location of her last permanent address.…Read More