Student Fees, Fines, or Charges
The district will provide an educational program for the students as free of cost as possible.
The superintendent or designee 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 proper accounting is made of all money received by staff for supplies and materials.
The board delegates authority to the superintendent or designee to establish appropriate fees and procedures governing the collection of such 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, because 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 or designee 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 will be responsible for the cost of replacing any property belonging to others that are lost or damaged due to the student’s negligence.
If any property of the district, a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student has been lost or willfully cut, defaced, or injured, with the damages exceeding $1,000, the district may withhold the diploma, but not the grades or transcripts, of the student responsible for the damage or loss for the earlier of either 5 years from the date of the student’s graduation or until the amount owed is less than $1,000. If the student and parent or guardian are unable to pay for the damages, the district shall provide a program of community service for the student in lieu of the payment of monetary damages. Community service completed must be credited at the applicable local or state minimum wage, whichever is greater. Upon completing community service that reduces the amount owed to less than $1000, the student’s diploma must be released.
The student or his/her parents or guardians may appeal the imposition of a charge for damages or fines. The student and his/her parents or guardians will be notified regarding the nature of the charge for damages or fines, whether the student’s diploma may be withheld, 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 or guardians 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 or designee and board. When damages are in excess of $100, the appeal process for long-term suspension will apply.
Cross References:
Board Policy 3115 – Students Experiencing Homelessness – Enrollment Rights and Services
Board Policy 3231 – Student Records
Board Policy 3241 – Student Discipline
Board Policy 2020 – Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials
Legal References:
42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
RCW 28A.220.040 Fiscal support — Reimbursement to school districts — Enrollment fees — Deposit
RCW 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 pupil, parent or guardian — Withholding grades, diplomas or transcripts — Suspension and restitution — Voluntary work program as alternative — Rights protected
AGO 1965-66,#113 Districts – Schools – Fees — Tuition – Supplies — Authority of school districts to charge tuition fees or textbook fees
AGO 1973, No. 11 Districts – Schools – Tuition & Fees — Authority of school districts to charge various fees
Management Resources:
2023 – July Issue
2019 – July Issue
2018 – May Issue
Policy News, June 1999 School Safety Bills Impact Policy
Adoption Date: 09/19/01
Classification: Essential
Revised Dates: 08/28/13; 07/07/21; 10/04/23