The District is suing a Maryland mother for $31,294 because she enrolled her child in the city's public schools but committed fraud to avoid paying non-resident tuition.

A D.C. public charter school employee, Darnette Paige, was also hit with a civil suit for pretending she was the child's legal guardian. Rather, the student was living with her mother, Jacinda Mason in Maryland while pretending to be a D.C. resident for at least four years. The Washington Post first reported the suit.

In a statement, Attorney General Irvin Nathan said his office "will continue to investigate and take action against all those who fraudulently avoid paying non-resident tuition to the District."

The Washington Examiner reported in May that the Office of the State Superintendent of Education was investigating 126 students enrolled in D.C. Public Schools and 32 enrolled in charters for residency fraud. More than 100 other students with disabilities and who were sent to private facilities were being investigated.

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Because taxpayers fund public schools, pretending to live in a a school district is considered fraud. Non-resident tuition varies but can reach more than $12,000 each year.

lgartner@washingtonexaminer.com