PREAMBLE

In compliance with Part II, School Attendance, Sections 32 (1) and 32 (2) of the Education Statutes and Regulations of Ontario, the Niagara Catholic District School Board supports every student’s right to attend a school, where the student is a qualified resident pupil, without payment of a fee.

The fees discussed in the procedures, are fees other than tuition for visa students, international students, Indigenous students attending pursuant to a tuition agreement, and adult or continuing education students. Nor do they include fees for early learning programs offered outside the regular school day or other before or after school programs.

The Niagara Catholic District School Board and its schools may choose to offer enhanced or optional programming and materials beyond the core curriculum necessary to meet the learning expectations of a particular grade or course. These opportunities may be subject to an additional fee. The dignity of every student, parent/guardian shall be honoured in the school fee collection process.

Student Activity Fees

Student activity fees are voluntary fees that are used to supplement a student’s school experience through materials and activities such as student agendas, student recognition programs, yearbooks, school dances,

co-instructional activities, or theme days or retreats.

Enhanced Programming and Materials

Enhanced programming and materials are voluntary enrichments or upgrades to the curriculum or co-instructional activities beyond what is necessary to meet the learning expectations for a particular grade or course. Where students choose not to access enhanced programs or materials, alternatives must provided at no cost as essential course materials required to meet the learning expectations of the course or grade.

Optional Programming

Optional Programming refers to voluntary courses or activities that students normally choose to attend through an application process, with the knowledge that these programs are beyond the core curriculum. Examples may include Advanced Placement and Hockey Canada Skills Academy programs.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Members of the Catholic school community should be consulted in the development of school fees.

Fees should reflect the actual cost of the services or materials being provided to the student. A transparent accounting of the fees collected and expenditures allocated must be made available to the Catholic school community.

To ensure consistency and transparency across all Niagara Catholic schools, the application of fees should reflect the following principles:

· The purposes for which funds are collected are consistent with the Niagara Catholic District School Board mission, vision and values statements, strategic directions and system priorities.

· Fees raised for school purposes are to complement, and not replace, public funding for education.

· Successful completion of a required grade or course leading to graduation cannot be dependent on the payment of any course fee.

· Students must be able to participate in school activities and access resources regardless of personal financial barriers.

o Schools should address financial hardship and support student participation in activities regardless of economic circumstances.

o A respectful practice for discreet identification of students/parents/guardians who may be experiencing financial hardship should be clearly communicated.

o Financial reporting practices to the school community are in place.

FEE CHARGES

Fee charges shall be permissible for an activity, material, course or program if it is:

· Not required as part of the regular day school program;

· Voluntary, and alternatives are offered;

· Non-essential or co-instructional in nature and is not required for graduation by an individual student; or

· A voluntary upgrade or substitute of a more costly material to the material provided for course purposes.

Examples of activities, programs, and materials that are ineligible and eligible for fee charges are found in Appendix A .

BEST PRACTICES

School principals shall consider the following best practices when implementing application of fees in their school:

· Minimizing, where possible, costs related to enhanced programming and materials (for example, speakers, dance instructors, in-class field trips) that are optional to a course;

· Making every effort to ensure all students can participate in student activities regardless of individual economic circumstances;

· Modest student activity fees for student agendas, student recognition, yearbooks, school dances, student council activities and clubs, photographs, co-instructional activities and athletics; and

· Where a parent/guardian authorizes a student not to participate, alternative assignments must be provided during the school day for students to meet the expectations of the course.

Niagara Catholic District School Board *STUDENT FEES* ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
300 – Schools/Students	No 301.11

Adopted Date: June 14, 2011	Latest Reviewed/Revised Date: February 8, 2022