Residency Verification Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to verify my address more frequently?

• There is a new law (Act 47, passed into state law in November 2025); it is not CCA’s decision to require additional address verification.
• We understand that families have never been required to submit additional address verification in the past, and we realize the inconvenience.
• Although we believe these extra steps are unnecessary, we must follow the law. Providing accurate proof of residency ensures that CCA is billing the appropriate school district.

Does this law apply to everyone?

• The law does not apply to:
  • Learners who are experiencing homelessness
  • Families who completed a change of address on or after November 1, 2025
  • Families who enrolled in CCA on or after November 1, 2025

What do I need to do?

• The new law states that, in addition to providing a valid proof of address at the time of enrollment, families need to verify residency by March 1 and November 1 of each school year.
• Residency is verified by completing an Address Verification Form (1 per household) and a Charter Form (1 per student).
• The Address Verification Form will instruct you to upload a proof of residence document.
• If you have questions or need assistance, please contact: [email protected]

What is a Charter Form?

• The Charter School Enrollment Form was developed by the PA Department of Education to communicate with school districts about a resident student’s decision to attend a charter school. This form collects key information about the student, the name and address of their parent or guardian, and the name of their local school district. The form must be signed by the parent or guardian and submitted to the local school district.
• A separate Charter Form is required for each student in the household.

What is a proof of residence?

• A proof of residence, also called proof of address, is a document that verifies a student’s primary residence. This information determines which local school district is responsible for paying the student’s tuition to a charter school.
• Only one (1) proof of residence per household is required.

What documents can I submit as proof of residence?

• The new law now determines what documents can be submitted as proof of residence. You need to submit only one (1) of these documents per household. The document must include the primary caretaker’s name and address. The following documents are acceptable:
  • Currently active signed lease agreement (all pages)
  • Mortgage statement (less than three months old)
  • Bank statement (less than three months old)
  • Utility bill (natural gas, water, electricity, or internet) (less than three months old)
  • Tax bill (less than three months old)
  • Insurance document (less than three months old)
  • Valid vehicle registration
  • Valid driver’s license or Pennsylvania Department of Transportation identification card
  • A letter or document sent by the federal or state government, such as benefits information, voter registration, or tax documents.

What if I want to use a driver’s license or bank statement, but I don’t want to share all of the personal information on those documents?

• CCA’s system for collecting proof of residence is secure, but we understand concerns about sending personal information. Account numbers and financial information can be redacted (blacked out with a marker). It is only necessary to see the date and the primary caretaker’s name and address.

Are the acceptable proof of residence documents different from what I submitted when I enrolled or last changed my address?

• Potentially. The new law limits the types of documents that can be submitted as proof of residence. You may not be able to use what you provided previously.

How do I know if I am required to verify my address by March 1, 2026?

• If the requirement applies to you, you will receive an email from CCA that will take you to the Address Verification Form and Charter Form.
• We realize that the upcoming March 1 deadline is challenging, and CCA is not holding families to a strict March 1, 2026, deadline.

Why is this important? What will happen if I do not provide proof of address for each required verification?

• Your school district may continue to contact you and insist upon submission.
• CCA will not withdraw students who do not provide proof of address; however, it is possible that school districts will refuse to pay tuition, making it more difficult for CCA to get the resources it needs.
• As we learn more about the implications of not submitting proof of residence, CCA may implement additional measures to ensure compliance.

My school district already contacted me and told me to submit my proof of residence to them directly. Should I do that?

• CCA will send the proof of residence document and Charter Form you complete for us to your local school district. If contacted, you can let your school district know that you are working with CCA to provide proof of residency.
• You are not prevented from submitting your residency document directly to the school district, however, address verification requires a Charter Form signed by CCA, so it is more efficient to have CCA send everything to the district on your behalf at one time.

The letter from my school district says that they will send a school police officer to my home to do a residency check if I do not submit proof of address to them. What should I do?

• CCA cannot prevent a school district from doing an in-person residency check. However, following CCA’s process will ensure that districts receive the appropriate address verification, so additional residency checks should be unnecessary.

The letter from my school district indicates consequences that I haven’t heard from CCA. What is and isn’t permitted by school districts?

• Your local school district may not do the following:
  • Force CCA to withdraw a student
  • Make you responsible for tuition payments to CCA
  • Require multiple address documents or forms of address that are not listed as acceptable proof of residence
  • Require you to meet with them to provide your proof of address
  • Require you to participate in their district’s cyber option instead of CCA
  • Demand IEP information
  • Prohibit a students from attending their district school while they are waiting for their CCA enrollment date, resulting in unexcused absences