Administrative Practices

AP L7 - School Fees

Legislative References:	School Act, sections 82 and 168(1); School Regulation 1(2); Ministerial Order 236/07
Policy Reference:	5.20 Student Fees and Financial Hardship
Collective Agreement References:	None
Date:	June 9, 2025

1. Standardized Fee Structure

1.1.

Principals will, collectively, conduct annual reviews of their school fees, in order to

1.1.1.	ensure the greatest consistency school to school and program to program;
1.1.2.	keep fees as low as possible.

1.2.

Principals will present school fee schedules to their schools’ Parent Advisory Council for discussion;

1.3.

School fees will be submitted to the Superintendent or designate two weeks prior to the last regular board meeting in the month of June.

1.3.1.	The Superintendent has the authority to approve school fees on behalf of the Board.
1.3.2.	The Superintendent will prepare a schedule of approved school fees to present to the Board in June for fees to be collected in the upcoming school year.

2. General Guidelines

2.1.

Schools may levy fees as follows:

2.1.1.	for materials used in goods that are intended for the student to consume, to take home for personal use or as a gift. These costs will be referred to as Project Costs;
2.1.2.	for field trips and special events, provided such fees are limited to costs of transportation, accommodation, meals, entrance fees and equipment rentals;
2.1.3.	for supplies and equipment that are not necessary to successful participation in a required educational program (for example, more expensive raw material in an art or shop class;
2.1.4.	for supplies and equipment for a student’s personal use outside of school; for example, rental of a musical instrument for use at home.

2.2.

Schools may

2.2.1.	charge for the basic school supplies necessary for participation in a required educational program, when these are offered in place of basic school supplies that students or their parents would otherwise purchase from another source.
2.2.2.	require refundable deposits, as in the case of locks.

2.3.

At the secondary level

2.3.1.	schools will include fees charged for challenging courses in their Fee Schedule. Such fees are to be included in the schools’ fee schedule.
2.3.2.	if delivery of a Board/Authority Authorized Course is likely to involve a school fee, the course framework must include details of the applicable fee.

3. Waiving of Fees

3.1.

Principals will, after having input from the school community, establish school procedures to govern the waiving of school fees in situations where student/family financial hardship serves as a barrier to participation in learning opportunities considered ‘enriched’, ‘supplemental’ or part of a ‘specialty academy’ as defined in the School Act.

3.2.

School waiver procedures will

3.2.1.	ensure the privacy, confidentiality and dignity of students and their families;
3.2.2.	be submitted to the Superintendent of Schools.

3.3.

A footnote to the school fees schedule issued to parents will include the following statement (or similar): “If the above fees shall cause financial hardship, payment by installments (one or more post-dated cheque[s]) will be accepted. In cases of more serious hardship, the school will assist families with other arrangements. School District 64 (Gulf Islands) has a Student Fees and Financial Hardship Policy in place. In the event of an inability to pay, please contact (School contact) at (School telephone # or email). All requests will remain CONFIDENTIAL.”