Guidelines for Student Fees
within the Fullerton Joint Union High School District
A review of guidelines, policies, and procedures
for student fees, donations, and fundraising
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Welcome and Purpose
The subject of student fees, charges, deposits,
donations, and fundraising related to courses
and activities has been at the forefront of public
attention locally and nationally.
The purpose of this presentation is to review our
district’s guidelines, policies, and procedures for
student fees, donations, and fundraising.
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Free Public Education
California Constitution requires that we
provide a free public education, unless a
charge is specifically authorized by law.
Since 1874, the California Supreme Court
has interpreted “free school system” to
mean that students are entitled to be
educated at the public’s expense.
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All supplies, materials and equipment needed to
participate in educational activities shall be
provided to pupils free of charge.
A waiver process shall not render an otherwise
impermissible fee permissible.
Schools districts and school shall not establish a
two tier education system.
The school district or school shall not offer course
credit or privileges related to educational activity in
exchange for money or donations of goods or
services from students or parents/guardians.
Non-Permissible Fees
Part 1
California public schools, including charter
schools, cannot charge fees in order for students
to participate in any required or elective class
This includes: security deposits
(e.g. locks, lockers, books, uniforms, instruments)
participation fees (e.g. curricular, co-curricular, extracurricular), supplies (both necessary and supplemental).
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Non-Permissible Fees
Part 2
California public schools, including charter
schools, cannot charge fees for gym or physical
education clothes.
Education Code 49066: “No grade of a pupil participating in
a physical education class may be adversely affected due to
fact that the pupil does not wear standardized physical
education apparel where the failure to wear such apparel
arises from circumstances beyond the control of the pupil,”
such as lack of sufficient funds.
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Permissible Fees
Part 1
California public schools, including charter schools,
may charge fees for as outlined in the Education
Code.
These include:
Transportation to and from school
Transportation to places of summer employment
Charges for food (limited by the free and reduced price meal program)
Insurance for field trips
Lost or damaged books or district supplies
Direct cost of materials for property the student has made in class for
their own use
• Charges for optional attendance as a spectator at school/district activities
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Permissible Fees
Part 2
California public schools, including charter
schools, may charge fees for as outlined in the
Education Code.
These include:
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Fees for school camp programs (e.g. outdoor science camp)
Fees for field trips and excursions in connection with courses of
instruction or school-related social, educational, cultural, athletic, or
school band activities
Charges for standardized PE attire of a particular color and design,
but purchase from the school can not be mandated and grades can
not be impacted based on failure to wear standardized apparel
Actual cost of duplication of public records or student records
Charges for medical and accident insurance for athletic team
members
Parking of vehicles on school grounds
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FAQs: (Frequently Asked Questions)
QUESTION 1: May a school still receive donations from
parents and guardians?
RESPONSE: YES. School districts, schools, programs, and
classes can and do seek and accept donations of funds
and property, and this practice is permissible as long as
the donation is truly voluntary and in no way a prerequisite
to participation in the program or activity. Donations
cannot be made for a specific student; instead, they are
made to a school or program. For example, if a person
wishes to donate to their school’s cheerleading program,
they can donate to the cheer program or to the cost of the
cheer camp, but not the cheerleader.
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FAQs: (Frequently Asked Questions)
QUESTION 2: May a school still fundraise?
RESPONSE: YES. School districts, schools, programs and
classes can and do engage in fundraising activities and
programs. This practice is also permissible as long as the
raising of funds is voluntary. You may require students to
attend a fundraising event; however, if they are unable to
raise funds for the event, you cannot prevent them from
participating in an educational activity. Also, attendance at
a fundraiser can be required if it is a team or club event.
Penalties for non-attendance would be similar to those
imposed for failure to attend any other team or club event
(e.g. sitting out a game, etc.). Fundraising can not be a
requirement of participation.
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FAQs: (Frequently Asked Questions)
QUESTION 3: May a school charge fees for uniforms for
team sports?
RESPONSE: NO. A school must provide a free uniform to
any student who is a member of the school team in
question. You can allow students to purchase their own
uniforms if they want to purchase uniforms; however,
buying a uniform cannot be a requirement to participate in
a sport.
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FAQs: (Frequently Asked Questions)
QUESTION 4: May a school require team members to
purchase Spirit Packs?
RESPONSE: NO. Spirit packs may be sold; however, a
school cannot require a student to purchase a spirit pack
as a prerequisite to participate in a sport. If there are
practice uniforms, etc., which are required, they must be
provided free of charge to any student who is a member of
the school team in question.
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FAQs: (Frequently Asked Questions)
QUESTION 5: What if a school only charges fees to those
students who can afford them; and has a waiver process for
those who cannot?
RESPONSE: NO. A waiver process based on financial need
or inability to pay does not make an otherwise nonpermissible fee permissible.
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Classroom Supplies
California law requires school district to provide
supplies deemed necessary in order to participate
in regular classroom work.
These include:
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Writing and drawing paper
Pens
Inks
Black boards
Black board erasers
Crayons
Red pencils
Other necessary supplies
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Materials
The Attorney General has concluded that materials
must be furnished by school districts with charge
as necessary supplies.
These include:
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Athletic uniforms
Attire for music classes
Musical instruments
Special binders
Film for photography classes
Calculators
Other study aid materials
If the equipment or supplies are used by the school in the
educational process then these materials constitute
“necessary supplies” which must be provided to students
without cost.
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Sample Wording
PE classes
Students must wear appropriate attire for PE classes. The
appropriate attire consists of a (color) t-shirt, (color) shorts,
athletic/dance shoes, and socks. The school has shirts and shorts
available for purchase of they may be purchased from a vendor of
your choice. If a student is not able to purchase any of the items
required, they will be provided to the student and returned at the
end of the year.
If a student cannot purchased standardized physical education
apparel due to lack of funds or unwillingness of the family to pay
for specialized apparel the student’s grade cannot be adversely
affected.
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Sample Wording
Art Classes
Materials needed for activities in Art class will be provided free to
all students. Fees for materials used for projects that students
wish to keep and take for their own use are permissible.
Voluntary donations may be made to help support the art classes
No fees should be assessed to any class or activity. Donations
can be accepted but they must be for programs NOT for
individual students.
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What are we doing?
FJUHSD is providing faculty, staff, parents, guardians, students,
and administrators with guidance and essential resources with
the twin goals of school-community cooperation to support
programs and legal compliance while providing that support. This
is being accomplished through:
• Hosting meetings/presentations with faculty, staff, parents,
guardians, sports teams, school foundation, boosters, and
PTSA representatives
• Providing faculty and staff with course syllabus and school
supplies language
• Launching a website for district staff with resources and
Frequently Asked Questions
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REQUIRED MATERIALS
o 1” three ring binder with labeled dividers
o Paper
• Lined
• Graph
o Plastic zipper pocket
• Compass
• Pencils
• Eraser
• Red pen
• Scientific calculator
• Donations of the following classroom supplies are greatly
appreciated.
• The donation of the following supplies is appreciated to
offset the cost of classroom materials.
• You are not required to purchase any of these materials. The
supplies listed below are recommended to assist with
organization.