3520 Policy – Student Fees, Fines and Charges

The district will provide an educational program for the students as free of costs as possible.

The superintendent may approve fees for supplementary supplies, materials or services for which a charge is made to the student so long as the fee is established at a level to defray actual costs, 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 an annual report to the board regarding fee schedules at the time of budget adoption. 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 will establish a procedure for notifying parents 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 their parents may appeal the imposition of a charge for damages to the building principal and to the assistant superintendent.

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, attendance, history of violent behavior, violent offenses, sex offenses, inhaling toxic fumes, drug offenses, liquor violations, assault, kidnapping, harassment, stalking or arson and discipline actions shall be sent to the enrolling school. The content of those records shall be communicated to the enrolling district within two school days and copies of the records shall be sent as soon as possible. The official transcript will not be sent until the outstanding fee or fine has been discharged. The enrolling school shall be notified that the official transcript is being withheld due to an unpaid fee or fine.

Adopted/Previous Revisions: 4/4/96; 4/23/09
Updated: 04/30/18
Superintendent or Board Approved: Superintendent Approved
Cross References: Content
 

Policy 3200 – Rights and Responsibilities

Policy 3240 – Student Conduct

Policy 2020 – Curriculum Development and Adoption of Instructional Materials
Legal References: Content
 

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: Content
 

Policy News, June 1999 School Safety Bills Impact Policy