School Fees

[IndianaGirl577]

Local school district recently issued sn increase in related arts fee (from $11 to $20) to pay for special projects. Could this be a violation of Indiana's free education laws? The excessive fees are getting out of hand!

 

[Just Blue]

Local school district recently issued sn increase in related arts fee (from $11 to $20) to pay for special projects. Could this be a violation of Indiana's free education laws? The excessive fees are getting out of hand!

20 a day?week? month? school year?

 

[IndianaGirl577]

School year. Our point being that there are excessive fees and this is just an example of the fee increases. How is the free education!?

 

[Just Blue]

School year. Our point being that there are excessive fees and this is just an example of the fee increases. How is the free education!?

20.00 a year is not excessive. At all.

 

[FlyingRon]

For those on a limited income that qualify for free/reduced lunch, I can almost bet there is also a textbook/class fee reduction/elimination as well.

 

[not2cleverRed]

School year. Our point being that there are excessive fees and this is just an example of the fee increases. How is the free education!?

There are usually options for those experiencing true financial need.

For example, there are homeless children in my school district who are able to participate in their school's orchestra, in part because of need based instrument scholarships.

If your family is currently experiencing financial need, contact your school's social worker and ask about what programs you might qualify for.

 

[quincy]

School year. Our point being that there are excessive fees and this is just an example of the fee increases. How is the free education!?

First, here are two links, the first to the Indiana Code section 20-33-5-11 on Financial Assistance for Students, and the second to a 2015 directive from the Indiana State Examiner that touches on the Indiana Supreme Court decision in Nagy v. Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation on mandatory school fees.

http://iga.in.gov/static-documents/a/c/6/b/ac6b0d56/TITLE20_AR33_ch5.pdf

https://www.in.gov/sboa/files/SBOA_Directive_2015_5.pdf

If a family is not eligible for State assistance because their income is too high but the parent fails to pay the required fees, schools "cannot withhold curricular materials and supplies; require any special services from a child; deny the child any benefit or privilege."

The schools are reimbursed by the State for fees the schools must cover for their non-paying students - but the schools can seek reimbursement from the parents for any amount over what the State will reimburse.

 

[quincy]

Here is a link to the Indiana Supreme Court decision in Nagy v. Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, March 30, 2006, where the Court held that a mandatory $20 student services fee violated the Indiana Education Code.

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/in-supreme-court/1300567.html