Some parents may worry about the cost of outfitting their kids to go back to school, but it’s the fees and extra costs throughout the year that can strain budgets and limit kids’ participation in extra-curricular activities.

The Abbotsford district has measures in place to help ensure no student is denied access to any educational opportunity because of financial hardship, but many parents and students can’t bring themselves to ask for the help, said District Parent Advisory Council chair, Rhonda Pauls.

“For most people, that gets stuck in their throat. They will rob Peter to pay Paul [to pay fees] or they limit the number of sports their kid can play.”

A legal challenge by Victoria school trustee John Young, who felt fees discriminated against low-income families, ended in a court decision in 2006. As a result, school districts could not charge fees for any courses a student required to graduate.

But the ruling did not eliminate fees entirely.

The government made changes to the School Act in 2007 allowing schools to charge fees for any “extra-curricular” activities. Items such as band instrument rental, supplies for trades programs and elective courses, and optional field trips not tied to students’ learning outcomes are now subject to fees.

The change also saved sports academies and trades apprenticeship programs from the budget knife, and encouraged students not to switch to private schools to get enhanced programs.

The positive result of the court decision is it limited and made consistent the amount schools could be charging, said Pauls.

Plus, the schools could still a offer programs that engaged students.

“Nobody wants to see less opportunities for kids.”

But some parents are still not in a position to pay so much, she said.

Assistant superintendent Steve Carlton said in order to help families and students facing financial hardship, administrators need to be informed, he said.

“We leave it to parents to make the appropriate arrangement with principals, and schools have a confidential process to waive or adjust fees accordingly.”

However, the school district is still subject to the laws of economics, he said.

“If people won’t pay or can’t pay, we can’t offer extra-curricular things such as sports academies. They have to operate on a cost-recovery basis.”

Pauls said everyone in the system is working to ensure kids to get the opportunities they need.

Community organizations and businesses are also working to lighten the load on low -income families.

Abbotsford Community Services offers support through the Food Bank.

Along with House of James and Staples, the food bank buys bulk school supplies, providing such things as zip binders for high school students, or crayons and pencil boxes for elementary kids.

The food bank assisted approximately 200 students this year.

School costs

Basic or “minimum” costs (excluding sports academies and trade programs)

for a student in Grade 12.

School supplies = $60

Activity fee = $30

Agenda = $8

Materials for electives = $50

Workbook x 3 = $45

Instrument rental= $90

Fees for two sports (average):

Rugby = $200

Basketball = $100

Graduation fees = $150

Total = $733