| Herrin Community Unit School District No. 4 |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5900.01 - WAIVER OF FEES
It shall be the policy of the Board of Education, Herrin Community Unit School District No. 4, to waive all fees assessed by and payable directly to the District for instructional and extra-curricular activities for students whose parents are unable to afford them. The term "school fees" means any fee assessed by the School District on the student or the parents of a student enrolled therein as a prerequisite for the student's participation in any curricular or extra-curricular program of the school or School District. The District does not impose a "fee" when it requires that a student provide his/her own ordinary supplies or materials (e.g., pencil, paper, notebooks, etc.), which are necessary to participate in any curricular or extra-curricular program. Costs of materials and parts to fabricate or repair property that shall be retained by the student upon its completion shall not be covered by this policy. The cost of school breakfasts and lunches shall be covered by this policy and the Federal School Breakfast and Lunch Program application will be used to make the determination of eligibility for waiver of fees.
Eligible students include, but are not limited to children eligible for free lunches or breakfasts under the Federal School Breakfast and Lunch Program. Parents may document financial hardship to be considered for eligibility above the income guidelines. Any student for whom textbooks fees are waived shall use the texts on a loan basis and shall return the textbooks to the District at the end of the school term. The parents or guardians of all students enrolled shall be notified of this policy and its implementation procedures annually.
The first bill or notice sent to parents or guardians who owe fees shall contain a fee waiver application form and shall state the:
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A. |
District waives fees for persons unable to afford them in accordance with its policy and explain eligibility standards; |
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B. |
procedure for applying for a fee waiver, or the name, address and telephone number of the person to contact for information concerning a fee waiver; |
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C. |
fees that are subject to waiver; |
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D. |
documents required to verify income; |
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E. |
procedure for resolving disputes about waiver of fees. |
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The notice must be in English or the home language of the parents, if necessary to provide parents with an understanding of the District's policy.
Procedures for Resolution of Disputes
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A parent(s) or guardian who cannot pay school fees should complete a fee waiver application form requesting a waiver of fees to the Superintendent. The form must contain the following: |
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1. |
name(s) of student(s) |
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2. |
name of parent(s) or guardian(s) |
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address of parent(s) or guardian(s) |
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4. |
phone number of parent(s) or guardian(s) |
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5. |
school where child(ren) attend(s) |
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6. |
reason for request for waiver of fees |
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The Superintendent shall have the authority to review the waiver request and request such further information, if any, as s/he deems necessary in order to make a decision on that request. |
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B. |
If the Superintendent denies a request for fee waiver, then a copy of the decision shall be mailed to the parent(s) or guardian within fifteen (15) school days of receipt of the request. The decision shall state the reason for the denial and shall inform the parent(s) or guardian of the right to appeal, including the process and timeliness for that action. The denial notice shall also include a statement informing the parent(s) or guardian that reapplication may be made for a waiver any time during the school year, if circumstances change. |
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C. |
An appeal of the Superintendent's decision must be made to the Board of Education within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the decision. An appeal shall be decided within thirty (30) calendar days of the receipt of the parent's or guardian's request for an appeal. The parent(s) or guardian shall have the right to meet with the Board in order to explain why the fee waiver should be granted. If the appeal is denied, the District shall mail a copy of its decision to the parents. The decision shall include the reasons for denial. |
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D. |
No fee shall be collected from any parent(s) or guardian who is seeking a fee waiver in accordance with the District's policy until the District has acted on the initial request or appeal (if any is made), and the parent(s) or guardian have been notified of the decision. |
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Discrimination/Punishment
No discrimination or punishment of any kind, including the lowering of grades or exclusion from classes, may be exercised against a student whose parent(s) or guardian are unable to purchase required textbooks or instructional materials or pay required fees.
Income Verification
Parents must submit payroll stubs so that the District can verify the family's income. However, for students approved for free or reduced-price meals, verification shall be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1758.
The Superintendent is authorized to develop guidelines to implement this policy in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Illinois State Board of Education. This policy shall be fully implemented by the start of the 1990-91 school year.
105 ILCS 5/2-3.96
105 ILCS 5/10-20.13
105 ILCS 5/27-23
105 ILCS 5/28-19.2
105 ILCS 125/0.01 et seq.
23 IL. Admin. Code 1.245
42 U.S.C. 1758.