Registration Fees - Rant

[herdtoDisney]

OP, I think your girls' middle school fees do sound excessive I have not had to pay fees like that, at middle school. Now, my just-graduated boy had $200 class fee in HS but you had till senior to pay it off. My middle school kids are given an ID and lanyard (if you lose it, then you have to pay for replacements) and a planner. They didn't pay fees for any core class (they weren't into sports) or for books. They did/do have to pay for field trips, which got a bit pricey last year...this is a Magnet school.

My 2nd boy is starting HS and I've not gotten a notice of any fees yet (different school than oldest boy). My elem. girls don't pay fees either. All my kids do have a list of supplies, which I do buy and I try to grab some extras too for the classroom. I do have to buy the $ calculator for the hs kids. None of my kids are into sports so I don't know about that. At elem. level, I pay a very reasonable cost for after school music (strings) lesson and it becomes included in school (at no cost) at middle school.

So I guess I do well here as far as fees-but then again, I pay $6600 a year in property tax on a modest tract home so, I'm paying...

 

[eliza61]

Not true, there are drives everywhere and you don't have to apply to simply walk up and get your book bag. You're telling me in New Jersey your news stations, outreach programs, churches on and on do not set up these programs and would require proof of poverty if they do?

On the raises how much do you think teachers make? They're bordering on the poverty line themselves.

C'mon, you don't think these people are doing the very best that they can with what they have? Is $200 ridiculous? Damn right, but I wouldn't be paying $200 if people (general, remember this is a problem where I'm at) had a sense of community and chipped in a little bit rather then just not paying. Why does it have to be all or nothing? Do you really in your heart of hearts believe that if people simply refuse to pay the money would somehow materialize? Watch the news and you'll see it won't.

Look, Wen. I am in no way saying that the teachers aren't working viciously hard. It sucks big time no doubt about it but the fact of the matter is that parents are strapped to the breaking point. I have watched my taxes and fees increase by almost 10%. We cannot keep simply saying more fees, more fees, more fees.

I'm not talking book bags. book bags are not a NECESSITY. My kids could use a plastic supermarket bag if they had to. SCIENCE class is a necessity. Every college from here to Botswana Africa requires h.s. students to have Science, english and math. Every state requires these classes in order to graduate. To charge a kid hundreds of dollars to take mandatory classes is unethical, illegal and immoral. Period!

You keep talking about these organizations, they do not cover fees. they cover incidentals. notebooks, pencils, hand sanitizers. No one I know is handing out $200-400 in checks to the school.

As I said before, what happens next year? Do we allow the fees to go up to $700 bucks? if you have 2 kids that's $1400 dollars. THAT IS INSANE!! Believe me I am screaming at my elected officials and I have a township school board meeting next Tuesday that I and many other parents will attend but the buck stops here and now. If we have to take our school board to court so be it but I am not paying tuition to send my kid to a public school.

 

[herdtoDisney]

As far as book bag events-my church does this, and we never ask for proof of income, or even require a name. We just feel that no kid should have to carry their books in a Stop-n-Shop bag. I couldn't imagine seeking 'proof of poverty'-we'd never do that.

 

[pyrxtc]

I haven't come across any "registration" fees so far. The elementary parents board pays for most everything extra and so does the middle school. The schools barely give us a list of stuff. they provide everything required.

 

[NMW]

I live in PA and I am always shocked when I read about the school fees some states/districts charge for regular classes. NONE of the districts around here or where I grew up charge fees. We have great art classes, music classes, science labs, etc. and do not pay fees, nor are we asked to buy anything.

We do get a list of suggested supplies in the summer: folders, notebooks, pencils, pens and for older kids, a calculator. None of it is mandatory though, teachers loan calculators and the schools supply students with supplies if necessary (so I've been told anyway).

Some things we do pay for: yearbooks, music lessons (not the lesson itself, but the rental of the flute, sax, or whatever you are playing), class parties at the end of the year (usually $10-$15), dances (around $10). In high school, the French club will go to Paris, the Italian club will go to Rome, etc. and of course, parents will pay for that if they want their kids to attend, but it's not mandatory.

We do not pay anything for sports except for cleats and if you play lacrosse or field hockey, a stick.

I think some of the fees people in other states are insane!

I should add that my sons are going into 6th and 8th and my daughter is still in elementary school. For elem school we don't even get a list of suggested supplies-they provide everything.

 

[htmom]

Im in Pennsylvania, and we have fees. $120 for 3rd grade. So its not all over PA where there are no fees. Currently our business manager (the worst in 50 years, he ran us red for 5 years now) has decided he wanted a raise. and guess what, he is getting it 76,000 a year, where the median is aprox 35,000. Yeah, its nessessary for him to make that, I'll believe that when pigs fly.

When voting time comes around I always vote to change the school board up a bit, but somehow the same old jerks get back in. They have NO IDEA what goes on in the schools and I have been to board meetings enough to prove it. I am sick of the vice principal because she does nothing. Seriously, last year she was on 6 big business trips, thats messed up when they whine about money all the time and how taxes need bumped again.

Our board actually moved a teacher to a different elementary school 25 min away when she literally lives across the street from our school. Only to replace her with a second grade teacher (the daughter of a board member) and when it was asked why at the board meeting "mommy" said "she really wanted to try kindergarden for a year or two"

So its not just money at our district, the whole board needs to go for all different reasons, Can you tell Im a upset about the way things are going in our school? lol

 

[cassandrap83]

We are in PA too. NO schools around here charge any fees either. You'll get a 'suggested' school supply list, but thats about it.

I can't believe public schools are charging fees. I can't believe that your child would be excluded from a class or activity at a PUBLIC SCHOOL for not paying a fee. That is totally insane to me.

 

[Darcy03231]

Honestly I don't think it's mandatory anywhere. Are your kids still in grade school? Cause once they hit middle school it's a whole different ball game.

Nope, I have one left in high school, three that just graduated this June and two in college. We've never paid any fees, but have gotten the "suggested" lists each year. I always buy what's on the list (and I send in extra supplies because I know they don't have them in the classroom for anyone who can't buy them). The teachers aren't allowed to "suggest" anything expensive either. Its mostly notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.

 

[PA Princess]

We are also in PA (Berks County) and the schools do not charge fees. I recall when I first read about the fees on the Disboards several years ago (I first read about them in Indiana where they are so steep), and I was really shocked.

Last year we did not even get a list of needed supplies for our elementary age dd, but one was sent out this year. It is all basic and inexpensive types of items.

Schools around here are funded by a combo of property tax and state and fed funds.

 

[angwill]

Here it is $200 going up to $250 next year just to get them registered. Then there are fees for sports varies, gym clothes $5.50 for a shirt and $5 for a lock, yearbook $45, pictures varies, school supplies and binders for every class that even the good ones fall apart less than halfway through the year so triple the number, drivers ed costs, etc etc etc. We are all in the same situation I just figure it into the cost of having children although I really wish they would stop requiring those darn binders.

 

[angwill]

We are also in PA (Berks County) and the schools do not charge fees. I recall when I first read about the fees on the Disboards several years ago (I first read about them in Indiana where they are so steep), and I was really shocked.

Last year we did not even get a list of needed supplies for our elementary age dd, but one was sent out this year. It is all basic and inexpensive types of items.

Schools around here are funded by a combo of property tax and state and fed funds.

Our taxes in IL are funded by the same property, state, and fed. 90% of our property taxes go to the schools and they are very high here. We still pay fees for them to go to school and then extra fees for different things along with supplies.

 

[zoemurr]

I live in PA and I am always shocked when I read about the school fees some states/districts charge for regular classes. NONE of the districts around here or where I grew up charge fees. We have great art classes, music classes, science labs, etc. and do not pay fees, nor are we asked to buy anything.

We do get a list of suggested supplies in the summer: folders, notebooks, pencils, pens and for older kids, a calculator. None of it is mandatory though, teachers loan calculators and the schools supply students with supplies if necessary (so I've been told anyway).

Some things we do pay for: yearbooks, music lessons (not the lesson itself, but the rental of the flute, sax, or whatever you are playing), class parties at the end of the year (usually $10-$15), dances (around $10). In high school, the French club will go to Paris, the Italian club will go to Rome, etc. and of course, parents will pay for that if they want their kids to attend, but it's not mandatory.

We do not pay anything for sports except for cleats and if you play lacrosse or field hockey, a stick.

I think some of the fees people in other states are insane!

I should add that my sons are going into 6th and 8th and my daughter is still in elementary school. For elem school we don't even get a list of suggested supplies-they provide everything.

We don't pay separately for the agenda, lessons, or any classes or clubs. We have music, gym, art, library, and computer starting in K. Just yearbook and some parties, tissues, pencils and binders. We do pay over 10K taxes on our $250,000 house though.. so I imagine we're all just paying for it in different ways. I guess to me in lower income areas (?) they are asking the people who have children in the school instead of asking everyone to pitch in like they do here. Guess it depends which side of the fence you are on if that is fair or not.

 

[5 Disney Fans]

I have three kids in school and my spouse is a teacher. We pay more for "teacher back to school supplies" than I do for all three kids put together. In the meantime the high school kids he teaches all drive nicer cars than us Our schools have suggested supplies and don't ask for extra fees, just the "normal" extras like yearbooks, pictures, etc... The PTO hosts lots of fund raising events and I try to attend b/c it is a win/win. Kid's love going to the events and my $3 ticket fee goes to the school. My DH said he is given a classroom budget of say $200 and he has to order supplies from their catalog. And he could get 10 pairs of scissors at Wal-Mart for what he has to buy them for through the catalog. So his $200 doesn't go very far and he has to buy the rest of the stuff he needs in order to teach his courses.

 

[fletchers5]

I am always amazed when I read about these school fees.

first off so you know...I have 3 children....all started school in PA...NO FEES....SPORTS FREE...never paid a dime...well I should say that I paid in the form of my School Taxes..but NO registration fees.

Moved to Illinois when my youngest was a junior....called the school to register him....when the office told me that I had to pay a registration fee...sport fee...book fee...ect...I asked " is this a private school or public"

I was amazed that it was a public school. I was very confused in the tune of $700.00 for my son to start school. WOW...what the heck am I paying taxes for. Thank god my other two children were out of school..can't imagine having to pay $2100.00 a year.

The worst part of this was the fact that they told me that my son could not graduate until he took drivers ed in the tune of $350.00.....My son HAD a drivers license and we were told " NO DIPLOMA"

Well I called the school principal...and explained that he had a drivers license..that our last school did not have drivers ed. I explained that I was NOT paying $350.00 for my son to take a driving class that was NOT needed. He asked me if it was the money...." WELL YES it is"

He said he would get back to me.

the outcome was " He does not need to take the class, they had never had this situation before..someone coming into their school from another state" Yeah RIGHT. Just an easy way for them to make $350.00

When our Illinois School System is paying a HALL MONITOR...paying people that sit in an office and play on the internet ( know people that work for the school and do this)...no wonder the fees are so high...maybe they need to get rid of jobs that are not needed. When the superintendant is making over $250,000 a year... and after working there for 2 years..will get $450,000 because of unpaid sick days and vacation....no wonder the schools charge fees like they are.

Illinois property taxes is out of this world...for our house back in PA we pay $2500.00 a year....here in Illinois it is $8,000 a year for the same size house.

There should be NO FEES for public schools. Yes buy your kids the some school supplies. That should be it...why are we paying taxes???????????

 

[jboysen]

I didn't read this whole thread. . .but ex-teacher here. These fees aren't mandatory. . .they can't be! The extra-curricular things sure. . .Sally wants a yearbook. . .$25. . .fine. I taught in an inner-city, low income, elementary school. . my last year. . .out of 28 students I had 2 show up with school supplies! What was I going to do? Turn away the other 26? Of course not! I understand the teachers points of view. . .BUT if anything is going to change. . .if the higher-ups. . politicians included. . . are going to get a clue. . .than don't pay those fees!!! This is a real sore spot for me. . .if you can't already tell.

Just as an example. . .our elementary school had an assistant principal. . .according to the district website. . . she had to be making at LEAST $60,000/yr. I worked there for 6yrs and still have no idea what she did!!! She wasn't the discipline person like in the higher grades. She basically took pictures at the assemblies, accompanied the principal at fancy out of state conferences, and served as the "yes" lackey to the principal. If you divided up her salary into the classrooms it would work out to over $3000 per yr. . per classroom!

The public education system is a multi-million dollar business, and vendors push hard to get their slice of that! I'm pretty sure that "required" portfolio isn't much more than a notebook. . .and since when do kids need ID's with lanyards??? Again, my last year of teaching. . man I was p*ssed off that year. . .I was pregnant, maybe that's why. . . anywhoo. . .we were pushed hard to order the reading curriculum workbooks with our $200 classroom money. A lot of teachers did. No way! Why would I buy something for my room that was only going to last a year. . .and pretty much just replaced paper? The same questions were at the end of each chapter. . .the students wrote their answers on paper. . .how hard was THAT?? Districts are updating their curriculmus to crap. . .seriously! We used to fight over an old math serious from the 70's because our new math books were garbage. BUT mark my word. . .somebody made some serious cash selling that new worthless series.

As someone that values education. . .it's just really frustrating! The districts. . .at least mine . . .are waaaay top heavy. There are millions of dollars being spent. . .but it doesn't have anything to do with what's best for the kids. They need to get back in the business of educating kids and out of the portfolio, workbook, lanyard business!

OMG! You sound like my husband. He is a social studies teach with an Admin. license looking for Principal jobs. If the aveage person knew how much the school districts waste, they'ed keel over. Before he had his license, his pricipal quit and the new guy they hired, came in and yelled at everyone for wasting money. The school had $180,000 for books that no one used. Why you ask? They all just ordered NEW books the year before! No one need anything and figured hold on to the money for a rainy day right. Nope not how the district works, use it or lose it along with a cut in next years budget for the school. This isn't even all the random positions they make up to hire more people, other than teachers ofcourse.

BTW, my husband teaches a a juvenille treatment facillity that caters to 85% special ed and most come from homes that had nothing. They don't even have parents to ask money for fees from.

 

[crjack]

We live in MA and schools really vary from town to town, including fees. Overall though, we only started having fees in high school. There is a transportation fee for bus services if you live within a certain distance of school but many of our schools are well within walking distance or people carpool.

Nothing really significant in elementary school.....just a recommended supply list of basics.

Late in middle school (GR8) both of my children needed a graphing calculator that was around $100 but they use it from Gr-8 into high school. Nothing for them to have chorus, art, gym.

Now that my youngest is starting high school, I just wrote a large check to cover sports and activities fees for both. It is an annual fee that most towns now have to cover the cost of keeping athletics going so it's optional technically.

Truly they try to cap it for families and I know they fundraise to keep it as low as possible so given the tough choices out there I am fine with it.

I'm also pleased overall with the quality of education here so I feel like we get a lot for our tax dollars.

 

[badblackpug]

I do believe it is a district to district thing. We do not pay school fees, we do not pay for books. One year they did try to institute "class dues" on the high school level to fund things such as the prom and the senior trip, but that was roundly rejected by students and parents. Everyone was more in favor of the fundraisers because it gave the students whose families did not have the money another opportunity to earn it. We do pay extra for some extra curricular things and some field trips, but I fully expect to do that. We get a school supply list, but that is it. Year books are optional. School T shirts are optional.

I am one of the "old farts" who voted against the school budget, and I have 2 in the public school system (and 2 more who aren't old enough yet, but will be) I pay in excess of $10,000 a year in property taxes. This year the state cut funding to public school systems. In my district (and the teachers here are on the higher end of the pay scale) the solution to the budget shortage was for the teacher to contribute something towards their health care benefits (right now they pay nothing) they flatly refused. I'm sorry, I work for the health care system that provides my medical care, and I pay into my plan, I am not having my taxes go up another $2000 to pay for some else. The budget was rejected and the school cut positions.

All in all, I am very happy with the quality of education my children are receiving. They do well in school and receive a nice, well rounded education. I do think I would be upset, especially with the amount of property tax I pay, if I was hit with "fees" for required things. Like I said, I fully expect to pay extra for some things, but I'm not sure what I would do in that case. I know there are parents who cannot afford it.

 

[Bronte]

Last year I had one in jr. high and one in high school total bill was almost 2,000.
My high school student was taking two duel credit collage classes plus she was in marching band and took drivers ed..
This year it is only 1,100 (600 in book/reg. fees for two students and 500 for both in marching band ... we are going to Disney this year to march down Main Street USA so I need to pay an additional 900 each for them to go but that is optional.)

 

[mrsklamc]

OK there is a HUGE difference between having to pay for marching band, sports, etc. and having to pay 'book rental fees,' just to graduate.

 

[Kate and Pete]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but if this is happening at a public school, then some of the fees are absolutely illegal. Schools can not charge for materials that are required for learning. (For example, our school had students purchase vocabulary books for their English class for $7 - the cost of the book - until I took a school law course as part of my M.ed and found out that we can't do that!).

Pay to pay extra curricular activities are different, but not if it's mandatory.

No way should be you be paying academic fees in a public school - NOT LEGAL!!!