Policy: 3520
Students
Student Fees, Fines and Charges
Within the concept of free public education, whereby all children are required to attend school, the district shall provide an educational program for students as free of costs as possible. Students may be required to pay for services and materials under certain circumstances.
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 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, by reason of their 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/designee will establish a procedure for annually notifying parents of the availability of fee waivers and reductions, including eligibility information for free or reduce-price meals.
A student shall be responsible for the cost of replacing material or property which are lost or damaged due to negligence and all fines accrued. A student’s diploma will be withheld until restitution is made by payment or the equivalency through voluntary work. The student or his/her parents/guardians may appeal the imposition of a charge for damages to the superintendent and board of directors. The student and his/her parents will 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 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/designee When damages are in excess of $100, the appeal process for long-term suspension will 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, the district will make all of the student’s records readily available to the enrolling school regardless of such outstanding fees for fines.
Cross References:
3241 - Student Discipline
2020 - Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials
3115 - Students Experiencing Homelessness - Enrollment Rights and Services
3231 - Student Records
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 Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1176
Adoption: 4/2012
Revised: 1/2013, 6/2017, 12/2020, 2/2021, 2/2022