Procedure: 3520P
Students
Student Fees, Fines or 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 will be used:
A. Class registration literature will 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 will 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 his/her 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 and notebooks;
F. Security deposits for the return of materials or equipment may be collected. Provisions will 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.
H. A fee may be collected or the repair or replacement of district-issued student laptops, tablets and Chromebooks as a part of the one-to-one (1:1) technology program. In accordance with the Technology Chromebook & Digital Device Handbook, students will be charged for any missing or damaged equipment including the tablet, keyboard, power supply and cable, student bag and digital inking pen(s). This fee will be equal to the actual cost of the repair or replacement
Fees will not be levied for:
A. Field trips required as part of a basic educational program or course;
B. Textbooks (nonconsumable) which 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 income. The USDA Child Nutrition Program guidelines will be used to determine qualification for a fee waiver or reduction. T
he district will annually distribute and collect an application for all households of children in kindergarten through grade twelve to determine student eligibility for free or reduced-price meals in compliance with the Chapter 28A.235 RCW, board Policy 6700 and Procedure 6700P.
A student will be responsible for the cost of replacing materials or property that are lost or damaged. The student and the student’s parents/guardians will be notified regarding the nature of the loss or damage and how restitution may be made. A student’s diploma may be withheld until restitution is made by payment or the equivalency through community service. If a student has transferred to another school district that has requested the student’s records, but that student has an outstanding fee, fine, or charge, the district will make all of the student’s records readily available to the enrolling school regardless of such outstanding fees or fines.
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 his/her 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. When damages exceed $100, the parent and/or student may request a hearing in the manner provided for in a long-term suspension.
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 4/2012
Revised 1/2013, 8/2013, 6/2017, 2/2022