JQ, Student Fees, Fines and Charges

Students shall not be charged a fee as a condition of enrollment in school or as a condition of attendance in any class that is considered part of the academic portion of the district’s educational program, except tuition allowed by law. However, state law allows the district to require students to pay textbook fees, fees for expendable materials and other miscellaneous fees.

The district will not furnish expendables such as pencils, crayons, notebooks and incidentals necessary for students’ personal work. Teachers shall use good judgement in requiring or requesting students to supply notebooks, specialized tools and paper and shall only require them to furnish reasonably priced, standard sorts of materials.

All student fees and charges shall be adopted by the Board. The fees shall remain in place until modified or removed by Board resolution. All student fees adopted by the Board shall be used for the purposes set forth in the resolution and shall not be spent for any other purpose.

Any information publicizing any fee authorized under this policy shall specify whether the fee is voluntary or mandatory and the specific activity from which a student will be excluded if the fee is not paid.

Instructional Materials Fees and Fines

The district loans textbooks to students. Students may be asked to pay a non-refundable rental fee reasonably related to the actual cost of some or all of the textbooks provided to them. Rental fees shall be adopted by the Board each spring for the following school year. Fees for expendable instructional materials shall be adopted at the same time. No rental fee will be assessed for classroom reference materials or library books.

It is expected that students shall return textbooks to the school in good condition, except for ordinary wear. Students shall be assessed fines for lost, damaged or defaced books, materials or equipment, including items checked out from the media center. The fines will be for the amount of the loss.

If the district has made a reasonable effort to obtain payment for lost or damaged textbooks or materials checked out from the media center and the student is graduating, the district may deny the privilege of participating in the graduation ceremony if the student fails to return or replace such items by the date of the ceremony.

Students who have difficulty in paying fines may arrange for alternative payment methods such as installment plans or school service. No student shall be refused the use of textbooks because of failure to pay the required fees.

Fees for Extra Supplies and Materials

The district may charge fees for specific classes that consume more supplies and materials than normal classroom instruction or result in projects that become the personal property of a student or family.

Various School and Activity Fees

Students may be asked to pay fees voluntarily as a condition of attending, participating in, or obtaining materials/clothing/equipment used in a school-sponsored activity or program that is not within the academic portion of the educational program. Upon the recommendation of the superintendent, the Board shall approve fees for the use of school-owned items such as lockers, choral robes, band uniforms and musical instruments.

Students participating in a school activity which is not required by their teacher or used in determining a grade may be required to pay charges covering the cost of the activity. Such charges may include, but are not limited to, entrance or admission fees, meals and lodging. The transportation costs of academically related field trips cannot be charged. The teacher and principal should make every effort to see that no student who wishes to participate is denied the right to participate in trips or other enrichment activities because of lack of funds.

The district may impose and collect a fee for the payment of excess transportation costs, in accordance with state law, but only those students who use the district transportation services shall be required to pay such a fee.

Waiver of Fees

All fees, fines and charges for textbooks and expendable supplies and materials required for classes within the academic portion of the educational program and any transportation fee shall be waived for students who have a demonstrated economic hardship, including but not limited to, students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

All fees for textbooks, expendable supplies and materials, and miscellaneous fees shall be waived for students in out-of-home placements, as that term is defined by C.R.S. 22-32-138 (1)(e).

Fee Schedule

The district shall prepare and make available upon request a complete list of student fees, with a description of the purpose of the fee and how the amount of the fee was derived.

The fee schedule shall inform parents/guardians how to apply for a waiver of fees, whether fees are voluntary or mandatory and the specific activity from which a student will be excluded if a fee is not paid. Students qualifying for a fee waiver will receive it without unnecessary embarrassment or public exposure of their need.

Adopted prior to 1985;
Revised March 4, 1992;
Revised October 6, 1999;
Revised April 19, 2006;
Revised July 2008;
Revised March 4, 2009
Revised October 21, 2020

Legal References

C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(u) (free textbooks to indigent students w/o deposit)
C.R.S. 22-32-110(1)(o) (textbooks for free or reasonable rental fee)
C.R.S. 22-32-110(1)(p) (can require students to provide reasonable supplies)
C.R.S. 22-32-110(1)(jj) (sanctions for failing to return district materials)
C.R.S. 22-32-113(5) (imposition of fee for excess transportation costs)
C.R.S. 22-32-117 (fees)
C.R.S. 22-32-118 (summer school fees)
C.R.S. 22-32-138 (7) (waiver of fees for students in out-of-home placements)
C.R.S. 22-45-104 (disposition of moneys collected from fines and fees)

Cross References

EEA/EEACB, Student Transportation Services
EFC, Free and Reduced Price Food Services
IHCA, Summer School
JFAB/JFBB, School of Choice/Open Enrollment
JFABE, Students in Foster Care
JJJ, Extra-curricular Activity Eligibility
JQA*, Student Fees for Retaking Required Classes

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