1215 W. Lewis Street
3520 - Student Fees, Fines, Charges Policy
STUDENTS
Student Fees, Fines, Charges
Within the concept of 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 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 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. The superintendent shall establish a procedure for notifying parent(s) or guardian(s) of the availability of fee waivers and reductions.
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 his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) may appeal the imposition of a charge for damaged to the superintendent and board of directors.
The student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) 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 or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall have the right to an informal conference with the principal. As is the case for appealing a short-term suspension (Policy #3322), 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 (Policy #3324) 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, and discipline actions shall be sent to the enrolling school within two (2) school days. 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.
Legal References: AGO 1965-66, #115 Fees – Tuition – Supplies – Authority
of school districts to charge
tuition fees or textbook fees
AGO 1973, No. 11 Tuition and Fees – Authority of school
districts to charge various fees
RCW 28A.225.330 Enrolling students from other districts
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
RCW 28A.220.040 Fiscal support – Reimbursement to
school districts – Enrollment
fees – Deposit
WAC 246-100-166 Immunization of day care and school
children against certain vaccine-
preventable diseases
Adoption Date: December 10, 1996