Policy 3260 - Fees and Charges

Fees and Charges

The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to ensure that books, materials, equipment, supplies, and other resources necessary for students’ participation in the district’s educational program are made available to students at no cost.

No student shall be required to pay any fees, deposits, or other charges for participation in an educational activity which constitutes an integral fundamental part of the district’s educational program, including curricular and extracurricular activities.

As necessary, the Board may approve fees, deposits, and other charges which are specifically authorized by law. When approving such fees, deposits, or charges, establishing fee schedules, or determining whether waivers or exceptions should be granted, the Board shall consider relevant data, including the socio-economic conditions of district students’ families and their ability to pay.

The prohibition against student fees shall not restrict the district from soliciting for donations, participating in fundraising activities, or providing prizes or other recognition for participants in such activities and events. The Superintendent or designee shall emphasize that participation of students, parents/guardians, district employees, volunteers, or educational or civic organizations in such activities and events is voluntary. The district shall not offer or award to a student any course credit or privileges related to educational activities in exchange for voluntary donations or participation in fundraising activities by or on behalf of the student. The district shall not remove or threaten to remove from a student any course credit or privileges related to educational activities, or otherwise discriminate against the student, due to a lack of voluntary donations or participation in fundraising activities by or on behalf of the student.

The Superintendent or designee may provide information or professional development opportunities to administrators, teachers, and other personnel regarding permissible fees.

Complaints
A complaint alleging district noncompliance with the prohibition against requiring student fees, deposits, or other charges shall be filed in accordance with the district’s procedures in Board Rule 1312.3-Uniform Complaint Procedures.

If, upon investigation, the district finds merit in the complaint, the Superintendent or designee shall recommend, and the Board shall adopt an appropriate remedy to be provided to all affected students and parents/guardians in accordance with Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 4600, 5 CCR 4600.

Information related to the prohibition against requiring students to pay fees for participation in an educational activity shall be included in the district’s annual notification of uniform complaint procedures to be provided to all students, parents/guardians, employees, and other interested parties pursuant to Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 4622.

Collection of Debt
The Superintendent or designee shall, in accordance with law, recover any debt owed to the district as a result of unpaid permissible student fees approved by the Board. However, the district shall not bill a current or former student for accumulated debt, nor take negative action against a student or former student because of such debt, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

1. Denying full credit for any class assignment
2. Denying full and equal participation in any classroom activity
3. Denying access to the library or other on-campus educational facilities 
4. Denying or withholding grades or transcripts
5. Denying or withholding a diploma
6. Limiting or barring participation in an extracurricular activity, club, or sport
7. Limiting or excluding the student from participation in an educational activity, field trip, or school ceremony

Rule 3260

Adopted: 05/20/1997

Last Revised: 03/19/2024

Last Reviewed: n/a

1. Insurance for athletic team members, with an exemption providing for the district to pay the cost of the insurance for any team member who is financially unable to pay;
2. Insurance for medical or hospital service for students participating in field trips and excursions;
3. Expenses of students’ participation in a field trip or excursion within the state or to another state, the District of Columbia or a foreign country, as long as no student is prohibited from making the field trip due to lack of funds;
4. Student fingerprinting program, as long as the fee does not exceed the actual costs associated with the program;
5. School camp programs in outdoor science education, conservation education, or forestry operated pursuant to Education Code 8760-8774, provided that the fee is not mandatory and no student is denied the opportunity to participate for nonpayment of the fee;
6. Reimbursement for the direct cost of materials used by students to fabricate property they will take home for their own possession and use, such as wood shop, art, or sewing projects kept by the student;
7. Home-to-school transportation and transportation between regular, full-time day schools and regional occupational centers, programs or classes, as long as the fee does not exceed the statewide average nonsubsidized cost per student and an exemption is made for any student with a disability, or any student who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals, any student who is an English learner, or any student who is a foster youth.
8. Transportation for students to and from their places of employment in connection with any summer employment program for youth;
9. Deposit for school band instruments, music, uniforms and other regalia which school band members take on excursions to foreign countries;
10. An adult education or secondary school community service class in civic, vocational, literacy, health, family and consumer sciences technical and general education, not to exceed the cost of maintaining the class.
11. Eye safety devices worn in courses or activities involving the use of hazardous substances likely to cause injury to the eyes, when being sold to students and/or teachers or instructors to keep and at a price not to exceed the district’s actual costs;
12. Actual cost of furnishing copies of any student’s records, except that no charge shall be made for furnishing up to two transcripts or two verifications of a former student’s records or for reproducing records of a student with a disability when the cost would effectively prevent the parent/guardian from exercising the right to receive the copies;
13. Actual costs of duplication for reproduction of the prospectus of school curriculum or for copies of public records.
14. Food sold at school, subject to the California Universal Meals Program, free and reduced-price meal program eligibility and other restrictions specified in law;
15. In accordance with law, replacement cost or reimbursement for lost or willfully damaged district books, supplies, or property, or for district property loaned to a student that the student fails to return;
16. Tuition for district school attendance by an out-of-state or out-of-country residents;
17. Adult Education books, materials, transportation, and classes, except that no fee may be charged for classes in elementary subjects or for which high school credit is granted when taken by a person who does not hold a high school diploma or classes in English and citizenship.
18. Preschool and childcare and development services, in accordance with the fee schedule established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, unless the family qualifies for subsidized services, or the program is exempted from fees by law.
19. Participation in a before-school or after-school, or intersession program that is funded as an After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC), 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) program, or Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO) program, provided that fees are waived or reduced for families with students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and, in regard to ASES and 21st CCLC programs, fees are not charged if the district knows the student is a homeless or foster youth;
20. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Diploma examinations for college credits, as long as the examination is not a course requirement and results have no impact on student grades or credits in the course.