Tuscaloosa County Schools toughen zoning restrictions - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

    No more cheating in Tuscaloosa County schools...when it comes to sending your child to the school her or she is suppose to attend.

    School leaders are tightening apparent loopholes in zoning restrictions.   They say too many parents are manipulating their child's school zones and its leading to overcrowding in some classrooms.

     They say its also greatly affected teacher placement.

     In the past, parents have simply given legal guardianship of students to someone in their more desired school zone.

     The child was only required to live four or five school nights with the person, but that's changing.  The child must now spend every night with the guardian.

     A court order for the guardianship is required.

     Also, parents must now provide a written explanation of why they changed the child's guardianship.

     Under the policy, if you're caught trying to manipulate residency in any way, the school system may force you to pay for the cost of the investigation.