Student Fees, Fines, and Charges - November 2010 Revision

Fees and charges shall be eliminated in the Albuquerque Public Schools for all required courses. This includes required uniforms such as physical education uniforms.  In cases where the student provides tools or materials, which become his/her property, especially when the student exercises choice as to the specific project, material, or design, the student may be required to provide the materials.

All fees and charges for courses shall be published for the student’s review prior to enrollment in the course.  Schools shall follow the district fee schedule when determining course fees and charges.

Albuquerque Public Schools may allow for one of the following provisions if a student cannot afford a fee, fine or charge:

• The student fee may be waived by the district, school or district;
• The student and teacher may work collaboratively to find a source of funding for the fee, fine or charge; or
• The student may work with the teacher and/or school to earn funds to pay for the fee, fine or charge.

Optional Activities

Expense for enrichment assignments in optional activities shall be permitted.  Any optional charge shall be approved by the appropriate associate superintendent. A Report on Student Fees form shall be forwarded to the appropriate associate superintendent for advance approval.  Any optional charges shall be specified in the official course description.

In all cases provisions shall be made for students of limited means, and equal assignments shall be provided as alternatives without stigma or discrimination. Students shall not be restricted from class activities because of inability to pay.

Uniforms shall qualify as a fee if:

• Students are denied participation or excluded from the group without a uniform;
• Students are graded on their participation.

Transcript Charges

The first four (4) transcripts of grades, partial or final, shall be made at no cost to the student. This applies to:

• having the transcript mailed from the school,
• having the parent/legal guardian or student hand carry the transcript record from the school.

The fifth (5th) official and subsequent copies of the official transcript record shall be provided at the cost of one dollar ($l) per copy.

Lost or Damaged Instructional Materials

Albuquerque Public School may hold a student responsible for any lost or damaged instructional material or equipment that was in the student’s possession. Before a student is held responsible, there shall be evidence in writing (such as a checkout card) that the student was given responsibility for the material.

Albuquerque Public Schools may withhold the grades, diploma, or transcripts of the student responsible for damage or loss of any instructional material or equipment until the parent/legal guardian, or student has paid for the damage or loss. When a parent/legal guardian is determined to be indigent according to guidelines established by the New Mexico Public Education Department, the district shall work with the parent/legal guardian, or student to develop an alternative program in lieu of payment. In no case is the cost of replacement of lost or damaged instructional materials or equipment, such as classroom sets of textbooks or reference materials, to be shared among a group.

Student Financial Obligations

Students may have the following financial obligations:

• Library: overdue, damaged, lost, stolen materials
• Textbooks: lost, stolen, damages to textbooks
• Classroom materials and school property
• Athletics: uniforms, equipment, trainer supplies
• Extracurricular: fundraising monies, uniforms other fees.
• Cafeteria: food services charges and expenses.

Consequences for Non-Payment

A student may be prohibited from participating in the school’s graduation exercises until all financial obligations are met.

The district reserves the right to refer delinquent charges and accounts to a collection agency, when practical.  

Fines and Charges for Overdue, Damaged, or Lost Materials

Library Services shall determine appropriate fines and charges for overdue, damaged or lost library materials.  Instruction and Accountability shall determine appropriate fines and charges for overdue, damaged or lost instructional materials.

A restriction to on-site use may only be imposed upon a student who abuses library-media center materials.

Parents/legal guardians should be informed of two major school problems when a fine is assessed:

• The dollar impact of loss seriously limits a library-media center's ability to replace and also purchase new material. This reduces resources to all students.
• A student may be asked to look again for materials that have been misplaced.

All school staff shall encourage student responsibility for care of library-media center materials.

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Administrative Position: Assistant Superintendent of School and Community Support/Executive Director of Instruction and Accountability

Department Director: Manager of Library Services

References:

Legal Cross Ref.:

• §22-1-4 NMSA 1978
• §22-15-10 NMSA 1978

Board Policy Cross Ref.:JI – Student Responsibilities

Procedural Directive Cross Ref.:

• Activity Fund Manual (Please contact Accounting)
• Student Fees, Fines and Charges Schedule (Please contact Library Services)

Forms: Report on Student Fees (Please contact Library Services)

NSBA/NEPN Classification: JQA

Revised: May 1995
Revised: April 1996
Revised: June 1997
Revised: July 2006
Reviewed: September 24, 2010
Reviewed: October 15, 2010
Reviewed: November 8, 2010

This page was last updated on: December 9, 2009.