Registration Fees and Public School
@princess07031980 (5412)
United States
August 11, 2009 8:44am CST
After talking last night with a good friend of mine in another state, I found out that she has to pay a registration fee to send her children to public school. I couldn't believe that! As children ages 6 and above are mandated by federal law to go to school, I disagree completely with attaching a fee to register them! Schools are funded by by many departments of the government and I don't see what a registration fee is used for.
I live in California and I have 2 school aged children, and I have never had to pay any fees to register them for school. What were to happen if your family did not have the money to pay those registration fees? It's not like any parent can say, "Well, the money is tight this month, so I guess you'll have to miss school for a while until we can the finances back on track."
She had said that she just registered her 5th grade daughter and it cost her $62 dollars! And her oldest daughter, in junior high, cost $99! I could NOT afford those fees if I had to pay them right now for my children. She has 3 more children that are not in school yet, but at some point, they will all be in school at the same time, and seriously, she is looking at having to spend over $400 to register them all at some point, given the registration fees don't go up in the future.
What are the laws in your state? Do you have to pay registration fees for you children? Do you think it is fair or have you ever really thought about it?
3 responses
@princess07031980 (5412)
• United States
12 Aug 09
Right, exactly my point, and so that is why I am so stunned that they make families pay these fees. No parent could say, "Well, the budget is tight right now, and I don't know when things will pick up, so you just won't be able to go to school until things are ironed out." I don't know what they do for the families that genuinely cannot afford these registration fees.
1 person likes this
@vangie6_1963 (92)
• Philippines
13 Aug 09
in our country, public schools do not charge at all. the parents complain right away and principals avoid issues like that .they will be scolded by the public officials who needed the votes of the complaining parents. public officials dare not annoy the voting public.ha!
@princess07031980 (5412)
• United States
13 Aug 09
Well, this is in the state of Illinois-in the USA. Apparently the entire county has registration fees, as my friend moved from one town to another, but stayed in the same county. It doesn't seem right for sure, and I really wonder why people are required to pay these fees. Her kids have to go to school no matter, and there are waivers availbale for certain low-income situations, but that doesn't qualify very many people.
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
11 Aug 09
I thought the education was free for our children. Most places I know do charge a supply fee or things like that but not a registration fee. That seems a little wild to me. I am not sure it is legal either. She better get some real good results! I understand children from Mexico come across to Texas and we give them a free education and lunches to boot! How are we responsible for providing their education? They should have to move here....
@princess07031980 (5412)
• United States
11 Aug 09
That is a whole separate topic-what illegal immigrants get here, including education and healthcare. Yeah-when so many people are scraping by, and need some major help, often times illegals get their hands on what should be the citizens first. (Sigh....) Well, I don't understand the whole registration business, but apparently the entire county does it, so Ia msure there is a loop hole to it somewhere. I just find it odd that something that is mandated has a fee attached to it.
