Students
STUDENT FEES, FINES, CHARGES
Within the concept of the free public education, whereby all children are required to attend school, the district shall provide an educational program for the students as free of costs as possible.
The Superintendent may approve the use of certain supplementary curricular 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, and a proper accounting is made of all moneys received by staff for supplies and materials. The Superintendent is also authorized to approve collection of fees to cover the costs of educational field trips which are not required as part of a basic educational program or course.
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 shall 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. The USDA Child Nutrition Program guidelines shall be used to determine qualification for waiver.
A student shall be responsible for the cost of replacing materials or property which are lost or damaged due to negligence, for all fines and fees including meal charges, NSF checks, etc. A student's grades, transcripts, or diploma may be withheld until restitution is made by payment or the equivalency through voluntary work except in situations covered under Policy 3115 – Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services. The student or his/her parents may appeal the imposition of a charge for damages to the Superintendent or designee.
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, and discipline actions shall be sent to the enrolling school. The content of those records shall be communicated to the enrolling district within two school days, and copies of the records shall be sent as soon as possible. The two school days shall be based on the forwarding school district's adopted calendar. If more than one district calendar is in effect, the two school days shall relate to the adopted calendar used by the forwarding school. The official transcript will not be sent until the outstanding fee or fine is discharged except in situations covered under Policy 3115 – Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services. The enrolling school shall be notified that the official transcript is being withheld due to an unpaid fee or fine.
The student and his/her 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 his/her parents shall have the right to an informal conference with the principal. As is the case for appealing a short-term suspension per policy 3241, 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 applicable to long-term suspension as outlined in policy 3241 shall apply.
Legal Reference:
| AGO 1965-66, #113 | Fees--Tuition--Supplies--Authority of school districts to charge tuition fees or textbook fees |
| AGO 1973, #11 | Tuition & Fees--Authority of school districts to charge various fees |
| RCW 28A.220.040 | Fiscal support--Reimbursement to school districts--Enrollment fees--Deposit |
| 28A.225.330 | Enrolling students from other districts |
| 28A.320.230 (f) | Instructional materials--Instructional materials committee |
| 28A.330.100 | Additional powers of board |
| 28A.635.060 | Defacing or injuring school property-- Liability of pupil, parent, or guardian |
| WAC 246-100-166 |
Immunization of day care and school children against certain vaccine-preventable diseases |
| 42 USC 11431 et seq | McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act |
Cross Reference: Policy 3115, Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services
Initially Adopted: November 13, 1962
Adopted: February 22, 2010