Fees can add up for kids in Fayette public schools. Latest costs aren’t dropping.
In Fayette County schools, each student can be charged more than $100 per year in instructional fees depending upon their classes and activities.
A proposal for the maximum amount of school fees that can be charged to students for the 2023-24 school year was approved by the school board at its May 22 meeting.
Fees for the 2022-23 school year are not changing from the maximum fees approved last year.
“School fees are another example of how the lack of funding public education leads to inequitable opportunities. From AP (Advanced Placement) classes to book fees, families struggle to support their children’s education,” said Fayette parent Penny Christian.
Most classes have fees, along with extracurricular activities and clubs.
How much are fees?
A maximum dollar amount of $120 per elementary student can be charged for all fees during the school year. Several classes in middle schools have a maximum $25 fee.
School supplies requested from parents for students should be for individual students, not classroom cleaning supplies and similar items, according to district policies.
In high schools, maximum fees are set by course and range from $35-$50 each for some classes. In middle schools, the maximum fee per class can range from $15-$25.
For example, the maximum fee for a high school marching band is $250, engineering class is $30 and accounting, $20.
What are fees used for?
The fees help cover costs associated with school functions, like field trips, instructional materials, art supplies and instrument rentals, said district spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall.
The money is overseen by each school-based decision making council, she said.
“The school board sets a maximum limit on the costs and requires that fees be waived for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch,” Deffendall said.
Who makes decisions about school fees?
Members of the Fayette school board annually consider the schedule of instructional fees that schools may charge, said Deffendall.
Specific decisions about fees are made at the school level, Deffendall said.
In a 2009, the Kentucky Office of Education Accountability made several recommendations to strengthen the oversight and accountability of fees and dues recorded in school activity fund accounts.
OEA Deputy Director Marcia Seiler, who worked on the report, said recently that the group has not conducted a follow review of fees since it reported findings in 2009.
Can school fees be waived?
Yes.
At a May school board meeting, school board member Amy Green asked, and Deputy Superintendent Houston Barber confirmed, that students eligible for free and reduced priced lunch get school fees waived. Families should fill out the application forms, found online, and return them to the school principal’s office.
A student cannot be excluded from participating in any sport, club or extra/co-curricular activity due to the inability to pay a fee. Fundraising is recommended under the district’s policy.
