Illinois School District Denies Enrollment Over License Plate Data

Mother's vehicle flagged as frequently visiting Chicago, despite living in Alsip

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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A suburban school district in Illinois is facing scrutiny after a mother, Thalía Sánchez, was repeatedly denied enrollment for her daughter despite providing all required documentation proving residency. The reason? License plate recognition (LPR) software flagged her vehicle as frequently visiting Chicago, even though she and her daughter live in Alsip.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing trend among school districts to use surveillance technology like LPR to verify student addresses, and the potential for errors and privacy implications. The use of LPR raises significant concerns about data collection, security, and oversight, as school districts are gathering and storing data on the movements of families.

The details

The Alsip Hazelgreen Oak Lawn School District 126 has a 36-month contract with Thompson Reuters Clear, beginning in December 2024, that costs $41,904. The company's LPR software links license plate data with vehicle ownership information and surveillance camera data to track where vehicles associated with student families are located, particularly overnight. In Sánchez's case, the system misinterpreted her loaning her car to a family member in Chicago last summer as proof of non-residency.

  • Sánchez and her daughter moved into their new home in Alsip in March 2026.
  • The school district's 36-month contract with Thompson Reuters Clear began in December 2024.

The players

Thalía Sánchez

A mother who was repeatedly denied enrollment for her daughter despite providing all required documentation proving residency.

Alsip Hazelgreen Oak Lawn School District 126

A suburban school district in Illinois that is facing scrutiny over its use of license plate recognition (LPR) technology to verify student addresses.

Thompson Reuters Clear

A company that provides LPR technology to school districts, including a 36-month contract with Alsip Hazelgreen Oak Lawn School District 126 beginning in December 2024.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The school district has stated that it will review its residency verification policies and procedures to ensure they are fair and accurate.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for school districts to implement LPR and other surveillance technologies responsibly, with appropriate safeguards to protect student privacy and civil liberties. The potential for errors and misuse of this data is a legitimate concern that must be addressed.