Waiver of Student Fees
The Superintendent will recommend annually to the School Board for adoption what fees, if any, to be charged for the use of textbooks, consumable materials, extracurricular activities, and other school fees. Students must also pay fines for the loss or damage of schoolbooks or other school-owned materials.

Fees for textbooks and other instructional materials as well as fines for the loss or damage of school property  are waived for students who meet the eligibility criteria for a waiver contained in this policy.  In order that no student is denied educational services or academic credit due to the inability of parent(s)/guardian(s) to pay student fees and fines,  the Superintendent will recommend to the Board for adoption what additional fees and fines, if any, the District will waive for students who meet the eligibility criteria for waiver. 

Notification
The Superintendent shall ensure that a notice of waiver applicability is provided to parents/guardians with every bill for fees and/or fines and that applications for waivers are widely available and distributed according to State law and ISBE rule and that provisions for assisting parents/guardians complete the application are available.  

Eligibility Criteria
A student shall be eligible for a fee and fine waiver when:

1. The student currently lives in a household that meets the same income guidelines, with the same limits based on household size, that are used for the federal free meals program.

2. The student’s parents/guardians are veterans or active-duty military personnel with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line; or

3. The student is homeless, as defined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §11434a)

The Superintendent or designee will give additional consideration where one or more of the following factors are present: 

• Illness in the family;

• Unusual expenses such as fire, flood, storm damage, etc.;

• Unemployment;

• Emergency situations;

• When one or more of the parents/guardians are involved in a work stoppage.

Verification
The Superintendent or designee shall establish a process  for determining a student’s eligibility must for a

waiver of fees and fines in accordance with State law requirements. If a student receiving a waiver is found to be no longer eligible during the school year, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the student’s parent/guardian and charge the student a prorated amount based upon the number of school days remaining in the school year.

Determination and Appeal 
Within 30 calendar days after the receipt of a waiver request, the Superintendent or designee shall mail a notice to the parent/guardian whenever a waiver request is denied. The denial notice shall include: (1) the reason for the denial, (2) the process and timelines for making an appeal, and (3) a statement that the parent/guardian may reapply for a waiver any time during the school year if circumstances change. If the denial is appealed, the District shall follow the procedures for the resolution of appeals as provided in the ISBE rule on waiver of fees.

LEGAL REF.: 42 U.S.C. §11434a, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

105 ILCS 5/10-20.13, 5/10-22.25, 5/27-24.2, and 5/28-19.2.

23 Ill. Admin. Code §1.245 [may contain unenforceable provisions]..

CROSS REF.: 4:130 (Free and Reduced-Price Food Services), 6:140 (Education of Homeless Children) 9:10 (Student Use of Personal Technology)

Adopted: March 21, 2005

Revisions Adopted: February 01, 2010, May 14, 2012, May 21, 2018, May 11, 2020, July 31, 2023