3520 Student Fees, Fines and Charges
STUDENT FEES, FINES, 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 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 materials or 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 $1,000, 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. The student or his/her parents or guardians will have the right to an informal conference with the principal. The process for appealing a decision will follow the steps outlined in Policy 3241.
Legal References
- AGO 1965-66, #113 Fees — Tuition--Supplies — Authority of school districts to charge tuition fees or textbook fees
- AG 1973, No.11 Tuition & Fees — Authority of school districts to charge various fees
- 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 parent or guardian — Withholding grades, diplomas or transcripts — Suspension and restitution — Voluntary work program as alternative — Rights protected
- RCW 28A.220.040 Fiscal support — Reimbursement to school districts Enrollment fees - Deposit
- 42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
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
- 6700 - Nutrition
Adoption Date: 06.17.03
Stanwood-Camano School District
Revised: 08.19.08; 01.04.22; 05.05.26