3520 Student Fees, Fines, Charges
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The district shall provide an educational program for the students as free of costs as possible.
The Superintendent may approve the use of supplementary supplies or materials for which a charge is made to the student so long as the charge does not exceed the cost of the supplies or materials, students are free to purchase them elsewhere, or provide reasonable alternatives, and a proper accounting is made of all moneys received by staff for supplies and materials.
The Board delegates authority to the Superintendent to establish appropriate fees and procedures governing the collection of fees and to make annual reports to the Board regarding fee schedules. Arrangements will be made for the waiver or reduction of fees for students whose families, by reason of their low income, would have difficulty paying the full fee. For programs governed by the National School Lunch Act, the USDA Child Nutrition Program guidelines will be used to determine qualification for waiver. The Superintendent will establish a procedure for annually notifying parents of the availability of fee waivers and reductions, including eligibility information for free or reduced-price meals.
A student shall be responsible for the cost of replacing materials or property which are lost or damaged due to negligence. A student's grades, transcripts or diploma may be withheld until restitution is made by payment or the equivalency through voluntary work. The student or their parents may appeal the imposition of a charge for damages to the Superintendent and Board of directors.
The student and their parents shall be notified regarding the nature of the violation or damage, how restitution may be made, and how an appeal may be instituted. When the damages or fines do not exceed $100, the student or their parents will have the right to an informal conference with the principal. As is the case for appealing a short-term suspension, the principal's decision may be appealed to the Superintendent and to the Board of Directors. When damages are in excess of $100, the appeal process for long-term suspension shall apply.
If a student has transferred to another school district that has requested the student’s records, but that student has an outstanding fee or fine, only records pertaining to the student’s academic performance, special placement, immunization history, attendance, history of violent behavior, violent offenses, sex offenses, inhaling toxic fumes, drug offenses, liquor violations, assault, kidnapping, harassment, stalking or arson, and discipline actions shall be sent to the enrolling school. The content of those records will be communicated to the enrolling district within two school days and copies of the records will be sent as soon as possible. The official transcript will not be sent until the outstanding fee or fine is discharged. The enrolling school shall be notified that the official transcript is being withheld due to an unpaid fee or fine. However, for students who meet the definition of homeless, the district will make all the student’s records readily available to the enrolling school regardless of outstanding fees or fines.
Cross References:
Board Policy 3115 Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services
3231 Student Records
3241 Student Discipline
2020 Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional MaterialsLegal References:
42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
AGO 1965-66, #113 Fees – Tuition – Supplies – Authority of school districts to charge tuition fees or textbook fees
AGO 1973, No. 11 Tuition & Fees – Authority of school districts to charge various feesRCW 28A.225.330 Enrolling students from other districts – Requests for information and permanent records – Withheld transcripts – Immunity from liability – Notification to teachers and security personnel – Rules
RCW 28A.320.230(f) Instructional materials – Instructional materials committee
RCW 28A.330.100 Additional powers of Board
RCW 28A.635.060 Defacing or injuring school property – Liability of parent or guardian – Withholding grades, diplomas or transcripts – Suspension and restitution – Voluntary work program as alternative – Rights protected
RCW 28A.220.040 Fiscal support – Reimbursement to school districts – Enrollment fees – Deposit
Management Resources: Policy & Legal News July 2019; May 2018
Policy News June 1999 School Safety Bills Impact Policy
ADOPTED: 12/14/1995
REVISED: 04/25/96; 08/26/99; 10/26/06; 12/17/20
Procedure No. 3520P Student Fees, Fines, Charges
Student Fees, Fines, Charges
Student fee schedules for individual buildings must be approved on an annual basis. Each building will submit an annual report which includes a report indicating the fees collected by each department. In establishing fees for classes, the following guidelines shall be used:
A. Class registration literature shall describe fees for each class or activity and the process for obtaining a waiver or fee reduction;
B. A fee may be collected for any program in which the resultant product is in excess of minimum requirements and, at the student's option, becomes the personal property of the student. Fees may not exceed the cost of the materials. The district shall furnish materials for those introductory units of instruction where a student is acquiring the fundamental skills for the course. A student must be able to obtain the highest grade offered for the course without being required to purchase extra materials;
C. A fee may be collected for personal physical education and athletic equipment, apparel and towels or towel service. However, any student may provide their own if it meets reasonable requirements and standards relating to health and safety;
D. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the actual annual maintenance cost, for the use of musical instruments and uniforms owned or rented by the district may be collected;
E. Students may be required to furnish personal or consumable items including pencils, paper, erasers, notebooks;
F. Security deposits for the return of materials or equipment may be collected. Provisions shall be made to return the deposit when the student returns the item at the conclusion of the school term; and
G. A fee may be collected for a unit of instruction where the activity necessitates the use of facilities not available on the school premises, and participation in the course is optional on the part of the student. A waiver or fee reduction need not be offered for such activities.Fees shall not be levied for:
A. Field trips required as part of a basic educational program or course;
B. Textbooks (non-consumable) that are designated as basic instructional material for a course of study; or
C. Instructional costs for necessary staff employed in any course or educational program.Fee waivers and reductions will be granted to students whose families would have difficulty paying by reason of their low income. For students and families participating in the national school lunch program, the school breakfast program, or both, the USDA Child Nutrition Program guidelines will be used to determine qualification for a fee waiver or reduction.
Fines or damage charges may be levied for lost textbooks, library books or equipment. If a student is unable to pay the fine or charge the student may make restitution through a voluntary work program or community service. Records pertaining to the student’s academic performance, special placement, immunization history and discipline actions will be sent to the enrolling school. This information will be communicated to the enrolling district within two school days and the confirming records will be sent as soon as possible. Official transcripts and grades shall not be withheld for unpaid fines or fees or for damaging or losing school property or property belonging to other specified parties.
A charge for lost or damaged materials or equipment may be appealed to the Superintendent. The Superintendent's decision may be appealed to the Board. Care will be exercised by advising students and their parents, in writing, regarding the nature of the damages, how restitution may be made, and how a student or their parents may request a hearing. When damages are $100 or less, a parent and/or student has a right to appeal the imposition of a fine in a manner similar to that specified for a short-term suspension. (Policy #3322) When damages exceed $100, the parent and/or student may request a hearing in the manner provided for in a long-term suspension. (Policy #3324)
All fees will be deposited with the business office on a regular basis. The respective departments and schools will be credited by the amount of their deposit.
ADOPTED: 09/22/1994
REVISED: 12/14/95; 07/23/96; 12/17/20, 8/25/2022
3000 Policies
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QUALIFICATIONS OF ATTENDANCE AND PLACEMENT
3110 Admission and Attendance
3114 Part-time, Home-based, or Off-Campus Students
3115 Students Experiencing Homelessness: Enrollment Rights and Services
3116 Students in Foster Care
3120 Enrollment
3122 Excused and Unexcused Absences
3123 Withdrawal Prior to Graduation
3124 Removal of Student during School Hours
3125 Release of Student during School Day
3126 Child Custody
3131 District Attendance Area Transfers
3140 Release of Resident Students
3141 Nonresident Students
3142 International Exchange Students
3143 District Notification of Juvenile Offenders
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
3200 Student Rights and Responsibilities
3205 Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited
3207 Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
3210 Nondiscrimination
3211 Gender-Inclusive Schools
3220 Freedom of Expression
3223 Freedom of Assembly
3224 Student Dress
3225 School-Based Threat Assessment
3226 Interviews and Interrogations of Students on School Premises
3230 Student Privacy and Searches
3231 Students Records
3232 Parent and Student Rights in Administration of Surveys Analysis or Evaluations
3235 Protection of Student Personal Information
3240 Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions
3241 Student Discipline
3242 Closed Campus
3243 Student Driving
3244 Prohibition of Corporal Punishment
3245 Students and Telecommunication Devices
3246 Use of Isolation, Restraint and Other Uses of Reasonable Force
STUDENT WELFARE
3410 Student Health
3412 Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
3413 Student Immunization and Life Threatening Conditions
3414 Infectious Diseases
3415 Accommodating Students with Diabetes
3416 Medication at School
3417 Catheterization
3418 Response to Student Injury or Illness
3419 Self-Administration of Asthma and Anaphylaxis Medications
3420 Anaphylaxis Prevention and Response
3421 Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Prevention
3422 Student Sports – Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
3424 Opioid-Related Overdose Reversal
3432 Emergencies
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
3510 Associated Student Bodies
3515 Student Incentives
3520 Student Fees, Fines, Charges
3530 Student Fund Raising Activities Involving Students