KATY, Texas — Katy Independent School District is facing questions after school officials entered the home of a 15-year-old Katy High School student during a residency verification visit while the student was home alone, according to the student’s family and Ring camera footage obtained by KHOU 11.
The footage, recorded on June 30, shows Katy High School Principal Dr. Hull and a Katy ISD police officer arriving at the residence. After the student answered the door, the principal asked to verify his residence.
“I’m Dr. Hull. So, I just have to do a residency verification, so basically I just have to see where your room is, if that’s okay,” the principal said.
The student agreed, and the principal and school police officer entered the home.
The student’s mother told KHOU 11 that her son was home alone during the visit and that the district did not notify her before school officials entered the residence.
Katy ISD confirmed the visit was part of a residency verification process but did not answer questions about why officials entered the home without a parent or legal guardian present.
“The district is aware of the residency verification. Individuals who submit an affidavit or bona fide residence acknowledge that the district may conduct residency verification as outlined in the affidavit,” the district said in a statement.
The affidavit cited by the district, however, does not mention school officials entering a residence.
Under the Texas Constitution, school districts may require proof that a student is eligible to attend a public school and may make reasonable inquiries to verify residency. The Texas Education Agency says each school district establishes its own residency verification procedures.
KHOU 11 legal analyst Carmen Roe said the incident raises questions about whether the district acted reasonably.
“I think the reasonableness of the law enforcement officer, the school principal, coming into a home when they knew and were told that only a 15-year-old was inside the residence is the issue here,” Roe said.
Roe said additional information about Katy ISD’s policies is needed to determine whether district employees followed established procedures.
“Is it reasonable to verify residency? Yes. The way this school district went about it, was that reasonable? I think everyone can agree, no. Was it lawful? We need to know more about the school policies to see if this activity was in line with those policies and then go from there,” she said.
KHOU 11 also asked several Houston-area school districts about their residency verification procedures. Pearland ISD said in-person residency visits are occasionally conducted, usually because of attendance concerns, but district employees do not enter a student’s home without a parent or legal guardian present and do not ask to see a student’s bedroom.
The student’s mother said Katy ISD officials later contacted her to apologize and indicated employees may have followed an outdated protocol.
KHOU 11 requested Katy ISD’s policy governing residency verification visits and whether district employees may enter a student’s home without a parent present. The district had not responded to those questions as of Friday evening.