Can teachers collect fees at the beginning of the school year for class activities that will take place throughout year?
Response: No, a general fee cannot be charged. Fees must be specific. If the class activity is required for instruction or for demonstrating mastery of the curriculum, a fee may not be charged unless at least one of the following applies: • The fee covers ingredients used to make items eaten by the student. • The fee covers materials needed to make a product that becomes the personal property of the student (for example, an art project). • The fee covers items of personal use that become the property of the student for reasons of personal hygiene (for example, a music recorder). However, if a class activity is voluntary and an appropriate alternative is provided for students who do not choose to participate, a fee may be charged.
