📍 住 RV 的家庭，小孩上學時「地址要怎麼填」？🏠✏️
實際住址 vs 郵寄地址一次說清楚
住在 RV 裡面的小孩能不能上學？答案是可以，而且受到聯邦 McKinney-Vento 法律保護。
但另一個家長最常問的問題是：
「我們住在 RV，沒有正式住所、小孩也一直在移動，那學校的註冊表格上『地址』到底要怎麼填？」
這篇文章用最簡單的方式，讓你一次看懂：
- 📍 實際住址（Physical Location）是什麼？
- 📬 郵寄地址（Mailing Address）又是什麼？
- 🚫 學區不能要求你哪些文件？
- 📝 填表格時要寫什麼？
- 💡 如果前台要求「租約、水電帳單」，怎麼說？
🏠 一、住 RV 的家庭 —— 有「兩種地址」可以分開填
在美國，如果你住的是 RV、van、motel 或親友家，入學表格中的「地址」通常可以分成兩個不同概念：
- 📍 實際睡覺的地點（Physical Location）
—— 用來判定你屬於哪個學區。 - 📬 郵寄地址（Mailing Address）
—— 用來收信、接學校通知，可以和實際住址不同。
這兩個地址不需要相同，學校不能要求你一定要有「正式住宅」。
（之後 interlink：第 1 篇 McKinney-Vento 總論）
📍 二、什麼算「實際住址」？住 RV 的家庭要怎麼寫？
在 RV 的家庭，只要符合這些其中一種都可以當 physical location：
- 🚐 RV 停在哪條街（合法停車區）
- 🏕 RV 停在哪個 RV park / campground
- 🏡 RV 停在親友家 driveway
- 🛣 暫時停在某個城市的指定 roadside zone
學區重點不是你是不是房主，而是：
孩子晚上在哪裡睡覺。
這就是美國教育法對「居住地」的定義。
📝 實際例子：表格上怎麼填？
若表格上要求填 address，可以這樣寫：
例子 A：RV 停在 Cupertino 某條街
Street: Stevens Creek Blvd (near address 11000)
City: Cupertino
Zip: 95014
Notes: Family currently living in an RV. Physical location varies slightly but within this area.
例子 B：RV 停在 Fremont 親友家 driveway
Street: 4567 Lakeview Dr (RV parked on driveway)
City: Fremont
Zip: 94538
Notes: Child qualifies under McKinney-Vento.
例子 C：RV park 有固定地點
Street: 3000 Pacific RV Park, Space #14
City: San Jose
Zip: 95112
這些寫法都是合法的，櫃檯不能拒收。
📬 三、郵寄地址（Mailing Address）可以用什麼？
大部分住 RV 的家庭，郵寄地址可以是：
- 📮 親戚朋友家（最常見）
- 📬 PO Box（合法）
- 🙏 教會、非營利機構代收
- 🕊 工作地點的收發室（部分公司允許）
郵寄地址不是判定學區的依據。
收信的地方跟小孩睡覺的地方可以完全不同。
🚫 四、住 RV 的家庭 —— 學區「不能」強迫你提供哪些文件？
在 McKinney-Vento 法保護下，學區不能要求：
- ❌ 房屋租約（lease）
- ❌ 水電帳單（PG&E / water bill）
- ❌ 房產稅單（property tax）
- ❌ 買房 escrow 文件
- ❌ Income、薪資、財務證明
這些都是「固定住所家庭才需要提供」的。
住 RV、住 motel、住親友家的家庭不能被要求提供。
💬 五、如果櫃檯 insist：「沒有租約不能註冊！」怎麼回答？
你可以禮貌但堅定地回答：
We may qualify under the McKinney-Vento Act.
We are currently living in an RV and do not have a traditional lease.
Could we please speak with the McKinney-Vento liaison?
如果櫃檯仍然不懂，可加一句：
Enrollment should not be delayed due to missing lease or utility documents for McKinney-Vento families.
通常講到這裡，對方就會馬上安靜下來。
💡 六、常見疑問（FAQ）
1️⃣ RV 一直移動，地址每天變怎麼辦？
—— 選一個你主要停留的城市或區域即可。
2️⃣ 車停在朋友家，但孩子有時睡在自己家？
—— 實際睡哪裡，就填哪裡。
3️⃣ 我可以不告訴學校我們住 RV 嗎？
—— 不建議。McKinney-Vento 的保護會因此失效。
4️⃣ 會不會被當作 fraud？
—— 只要孩子真的睡在你的實際填寫位置，不會。
5️⃣ Mailing address 用朋友家會不會害朋友？
—— 不會。這是全美常見做法。
✨ 七、重點整理
- ✔ 實際住址 = 孩子晚上睡覺的地方
- ✔ 郵寄地址 = 可以是任何安全能收信的地點
- ✔ 兩個地址不一定相同
- ✔ 學區不能要求租約、水電帳單
- ✔ 櫃檯若不懂，請他找 McKinney-Vento liaison
下一篇，我們會解釋：
👉 住 RV → 搬進租屋後，小孩要不要轉學？School of Origin 如何判定？
📍 How Should RV-Living Families Fill Out “Address” on School Forms?
Physical vs Mailing Address Explained 🏠✏️
Families living in RVs or other temporary housing are fully protected under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
But one of the most confusing questions is:
“We live in an RV and move around. What address are we supposed to write on school enrollment forms?”
This article breaks down the answer in plain language:
- 📍 What is a “physical location”?
- 📬 How to choose a mailing address?
- 🚫 Which documents the district cannot legally require
- 📝 What to write on the form
- 💬 What to say if the front desk asks for a lease
🏠 1. RV families have **two** different address concepts
For enrollment purposes, “address” can mean two separate things:
- 📍 Physical Location — where the child sleeps at night.
- 📬 Mailing Address — where letters should be sent.
(These two do not have to match.)
Districts cannot require traditional housing to enroll a child.
📍 2. What counts as “physical location” for RV families?
Any of these qualify as a nighttime residence:
- 🚐 A street where the RV is legally parked
- 🏕 An RV park or campground
- 🏡 A relative’s driveway
- 🛣 A designated roadside zone
The key question is always:
Where does the child actually sleep?
📝 Examples you can copy when filling out a form
A. RV parked on a street in Cupertino
Physical Location: Stevens Creek Blvd (near 11000)
City: Cupertino, CA
Zip: 95014
Notes: Family living in an RV. Physical location within this block.
B. RV parked in a relative’s driveway (Fremont)
Physical Location: 4567 Lakeview Dr (RV parked on driveway)
City: Fremont, CA
Zip: 94538
Notes: Child may qualify under McKinney-Vento.
C. RV park
Physical Location: 3000 Pacific RV Park, Space #14
City: San Jose, CA
Zip: 95112
All of these are legally acceptable.
📬 3. What can be used as a mailing address?
- 📮 A friend or relative’s home
- 📬 PO Box
- 🙏 A church or nonprofit office willing to receive mail
- 🏢 A workplace mailroom (if allowed)
The mailing address does not determine your school district.
🚫 4. What districts cannot demand from RV families
Under McKinney-Vento, districts cannot require:
- ❌ Lease agreements
- ❌ Utility bills
- ❌ Property tax statements
- ❌ Escrow or mortgage papers
- ❌ Income verification
💬 5. If the front desk insists on a lease, say this
We may qualify under the McKinney-Vento Act.
We are currently living in an RV and do not have a traditional lease.
Could we please speak with the McKinney-Vento liaison?
If needed, add:
Enrollment should not be delayed due to missing lease or utility documents for McKinney-Vento families.
💡 6. FAQ
1️⃣ Our RV moves around. Which address should we use?
Use the main area where you stay most often.
2️⃣ RV is at a friend’s house, but child sometimes sleeps elsewhere?
Write where the child sleeps the most nights.
3️⃣ Can we hide the fact we live in an RV?
Not recommended; you lose McKinney-Vento protections.
4️⃣ Is this fraud?
No, as long as the child really sleeps where you say.
5️⃣ Will using a friend’s address cause them trouble?
No. This is very common and legal.
✨ 7. Key takeaways
- ✔ Physical = where the child sleeps
- ✔ Mailing = where you receive letters
- ✔ They do not need to match
- ✔ Districts cannot request leases or utility bills for RV families
- ✔ Mention McKinney-Vento if staff seem confused
Next article:
👉 RV families moving into a rental: does the child need to change schools? Understanding “School of Origin.”