By John Young

Back to school means major expenses for thousands of parents. School fees, supplies and learning materials often add up to several hundred dollars per student per year. These fees and expenses place an intolerable burden on low-income families.

Few parents realize that they can send their school-aged children to school without money for anything that is needed to qualify for graduation.

The School Act does not authorize school principals, or school boards, to set up fees structures for a student’s education program, leading to graduation. If a student qualifies for a certain course or learning program, leading to graduation, everything that is required must be provided free of charge.

This means that such items as textbooks, workbooks, paper, pencils, pens, ruler, dictionary, equipment and other necessary learning materials must be provided free of charge by the school according to the School Act.

There are no exceptions permitted under the School Act.

Public schools operate two separate programs. One is called the “curriculum program.”

The curriculum program consists of official, authorized courses and various learning activities in which every student is required to participate, in order to qualify for graduation.

The “extra-curricular program” consists of a variety of activities in which students participate voluntarily.

Most of these programs and activities take place outside of regular school hours, or both inside or outside of school grounds during school hours and participation is voluntary.

Many extra-curricular clubs and activities expect students to voluntarily pay certain fees for participation, such as student council, school annual, chess and drama clubs, sports clubs, choral groups, ski and swimming pool trips, and other non-curricular field trips of various kinds.

However, progressive, sensitive school principals do not permit the non-payment of such fees to disqualify students from participating in any of these extra-curricular activities.

Fees for any authorized curricular program do not have to be paid for school-age students enrolled in B.C. public schools.

In conclusion, parents may send their children to school in September with a lunch only. The education program in B.C. public schools is FREE OF CHARGE!

John Young is a long-time Victoria school trustee. In 2006 he successfully challenged fees being charged by districts for some activities. In 2007, the B.C. government passed legislation that requires boards of education to provide for students who cannot afford extra fees for extra-curricular activities, which had previously been done on an informal basis. The legislation permits schools to charge rent for band instruments.