Schools

School Board Discusses Potential Effect of Legislation

AB 165, legislation requiring a free education under state law, is expected to pass by the end of 2011.

Editor's Note: The photo of the school board and superintendent is from a September meeting in which they wore these hats to show their support of the Beach Cities Vitality City program.

The Manhattan Beach Unified School District school board examined the effects of potential upcoming state legislation centered on the upholding of a free education in the public school system at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Though not currently passed, AB 165 is the result of a 2010 suit against some California school districts that require fees from parents and students. The fees in question range from educational costs, including textbooks, to payment for extracurricular activities, such as sports and musical instruction.

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California Code of Regulations, title 5, section 360 reads, “A pupil enrolled in a school shall not be required to pay any fee, deposit, or other charge not specifically authorized by law.”  

“In most ways, I believe we’re fully compliant with it, but we need to know that we’re compliant with it in every single way,” said MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews, who anticipates the legislation to pass by the end of the calendar year. “We need to know how every teacher is funding what they do, every coach, and every booster club.”

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If passed, AB 165 will be implemented within California school districts beginning January 1, 2012. Schools will be required to complete an annual fee audit in order to detect possible violations of the legislation.

With the passing of the legislation, fee waivers for students who can't afford to pay and paying for activities individually will not be allowed. The focus will instead be shifted toward fundraising and donations to cover the costs individuals were paying for.

“No one can be deprived because of where they are financially,” Matthews said.

For example, students participating on sports teams must be provided with the necessary equipment for that specific activity, such as uniforms, free of charge.

Requiring students to pay for essential classroom supplies or to attend an off-campus event that costs money, such as going to a museum or concert, will be red flagged.

“It takes some work for us to be on the same page in terms of what we’re asking from parents, and we need to be careful about that,” Matthews said. “I’ll be reaching out to our parents, employees, and booster clubs to get us on that same page.”

Areas in which parents and students can incur costs under the education code include transportation, deposits for musical instruments, insurance for field trips and athletic activities, and paying for lost or damaged books, amongst others.   


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