The Constitution of the State
of California requires that we provide a public education to students free of
charge. A student's right to a free education is for all school/educational
activities, whether curricular or extracurricular, and whether a student gets a
grade for the activity or class. Subject to certain exceptions, a
student's right to a free public education means that we cannot require you or
your students to purchase materials, supplies, equipment or uniforms for any
school activity, nor can we require you or your student to pay security
deposits for access, participation, materials, or equipment. We may
require students to attend a fundraising event; however, if they are unable to
raise funds for the event, we cannot prevent students from participating in an
educational activity.
The following are exceptions to the prohibition on
fees, charges and deposits at the Kindergarten through grade 12 LEVEL.They are permissible because they are specifically permitted by law:
Charges for optional attendance
as a spectator at a school or District sponsored activity.
Charges for food served to
students, subject to free and reduced price meal program eligibility and other
restrictions specified in law.
Paying the replacement cost
for District books or supplies loaned to a student that the student fails to
return, or that is willfully cut, defaced or otherwise injured, up to an amount
not to exceed $10,000.
Fees for field trips and
excursions in connection with courses of instruction or school related social,
educational, cultural, athletic, or school band activities, as long as no
student is prevented from making the field trip or excursion because of lack of
sufficient funds.
Medical or hospital insurance
for field trips that is made available by the school district.
Charges for required medical
and accident insurance for athletic team members, so long as there is a waiver
for financial hardship.
Charges for standardized
physical education attire of a particular color and design, but the school may
not mandate that the attire be purchased from the school and no physical
education grade of a student may be impacted based on the failure to wear
standardized apparel "arising from circumstances beyond the control" of the
student.
Charging for the parking of
vehicles on school grounds.
Charges for the rental or
lease of personal property needed for District purposes, such as caps and gowns
for graduation ceremonies.
Fees for school camp
programs, so long as no student is denied the opportunity to participate
because of nonpayment of the fee.
Reimbursement for the direct
cost of materials provided to a student for property the student has fabricated
from such materials for his/her own possession and use, such as wood shop, art,
or sewing projects kept by the student.
Reimbursement for the actual
cost of duplicating public records, student records, or a prospectus of the
school curriculum.
Fees for transportation to
and from school, and transportation between school and regional occupational
centers, programs or classes, as long as the fee does not exceed the statewide
average nonsubsidized cost per student and provided there is a waiver provision
based on financial need.
Fees for transportation of
pupils to places of summer employment.
Tuition fees charged to
pupils whose parents are actual and legal residents of an adjacent foreign
country or an adjacent state.
Tuition fees collected from
foreign students attending a District school pursuant to an F-1 visa, equal to
the full unsubsidized per capita cost of providing education during the period
of attendance.
Fees for an optional
fingerprinting program for kindergarten or other newly enrolled students, if
the fee does not exceed the actual costs associated with the program.
Fees for community classes in
civic, vocational, literacy, health, homemaking, and technical and general
education, not to exceed the cost of maintaining the community classes.
Deposits for band
instruments, music, uniforms and other regalia which school band members take
on excursions to foreign countries.
Charges for eye safety
devices, at a price not to exceed the district's actual costs, in specified
courses or activities in which students are engaged in, or are observing, an
activity or the use of hazardous substances likely to cause injury to the eyes.
