San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 3260
Fees and Charges
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Governing Board 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 them at no cost.
No student shall be required to pay a fee, deposit, or other charge for his/her participation in an educational activity which constitutes an integral fundamental part of the District’s educational program, including curricular and extracurricular activities. (Education Code 49010, 49011; 5 CCR 350)
(cf. 3100 – Budget)
(cf. 6145 – Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)
As necessary, the Superintendent or designee 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 Superintendent or designee shall consider relevant data, including the socioeconomic conditions of District students’ families and their ability to pay.
(cf. 3250 – Transportation Fees)
(cf. 3515.4 – Recovery for Property Loss or Damage)
(cf. 3553 – Free and Reduced Price Meals)
(cf. 5143 – Insurance)
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. It also 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.
(cf. 1321 – Solicitation of Funds from and by Students)
(cf. 3290 – Gifts, Grants and Bequests)
The Superintendent or designee may provide information or professional development opportunities to administrators, teachers, and other personnel regarding permissible fees.
(cf. 4131 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 – Staff Development)
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 BP/AR 1312.3 – Uniform Complaint Procedures. (Education Code 49013)
(cf. 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 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 5 CCR 4622. (Education Code 49013)
(cf. 4112.9/4212.9/4312.9 – Employee Notifications)
(cf. 5145.6 – Parental Notifications)
Collection of Debt
The Superintendent or designee may, in accordance with law, recover any debt owed to the District by a parent/guardian 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: (Education Code 49014)
- Denying full credit for any class assignment
- Denying full and equal participation in any classroom activity
- Denying access to the library or other on-campus educational facilities
- Denying or withholding grades or transcripts
- Denying or withholding a diploma
- Limiting or barring participation in an extracurricular activity, club or sport
- Limiting or excluding the student from participation in an educational activity, filed trip, or school ceremony
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
8239 Preschool and wraparound child care services
8250 Child care and development services for children with disabilities
8263 Child care eligibility
8422 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens programs
8482.6 After School Education and Safety programs
8760-8774 Outdoor science and conservation programs
17453.1 District sale or lease of Internet appliances or personal computers to students or parents
17551 Property fabricated by students
19910-19911 Offenses against libraries
32033 Eye protective devices
32221 Insurance for athletic team member
32390 Fingerprinting program
35330-35332 Excursions and field trips
35335 School camp programs
38080-38086.1 Cafeteria establishment and use
38120 Use of school band equipment on excursions to foreign countries
39801.5 Transportation for adults
39807.5 Payment of transportation costs
39837 Transportation of students to places of summer employment
48050 Residents of adjoining states
48052 Tuition for foreign residents
48904 Liability of parent or guardian
49010-49013 Student fees
49014 Public School Fair Debt Collection Act
49065 Charge for copies
49066 Grades, effect of physical education class apparel
49091.14 Prospectus of school curriculum
51810-51815 Community service classes
52612 Tuition for adult classes
52613 Nonimmigrant foreign nationals
56504 School records; students with disabilities
60410 Students in classes for adults
GOVERNMENT CODE
6253 Request for copy; fee
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
Article 9, Section 5 Common school system
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
350 Fees not permitted
4600-4687 Uniform complaint procedures
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 8
1184 Foreign students
COURT DECISIONS
Driving School Assn of CA v. San Mateo Union HSD (1993) 11 Cal. App. 4th 1513
Arcadia Unified School District v. State Department of Education (1992) 2 Cal 4th 251
Steffes v. California Interscholastic Federation (1986) 176 Cal. App. 3d 739
Hartzell v. Connell (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 899
CTA v. Glendale School District Board of Education (1980) 109 Cal. App. 3d 738
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Pupil Fees: Damage to School Property, Fiscal Management Advisory 16-01, September 16, 2016
Pupil Fees: Parent Service Hours, Fiscal Management Advisory 15-01, January 20, 2015
Pupil Fees, Deposits, and Other Charges: Cap and Gown for High School Graduation Ceremony, Addendum to Fiscal Management Advisory 12-02, October 4, 2013
Fees, Deposits and Other Charges, Fiscal Management Advisory 12-02, April 24, 2013
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.