How much are you paying in school fees?

Louisiana school districts should use “extreme caution” when addressing student fees, according to a report released last month.

The report was made available as part of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting agenda documents. A 2016 legislative resolution requested the study.

The results are based on an online survey of Louisiana districts and charter schools. Ninety-nine percent of local education agencies responded, according to the report.

All districts said they assess some type of student fee, and 56 percent said they have a policy regarding fees, according to the report.

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Of the districts with a fee policy, 71 percent do not indicate how fees should be collected or spent, and 89 percent do not publicly list student fees on their websites.

In most cases, principals or school administrators are in charge of establishing fees, determining how the money is spent and whether to grant waivers if a student is not able to pay.

About half of the respondents said there are no consequences if fees are not paid. About 10 percent said students would be ineligible for certain services or activities if fees were not paid.

According to the report, 27 percent of districts charge a physical education uniform fee, 24 percent charge a school supply fee, 23 percent charge an ID badge fee and 23 percent charge parking fees for students.

In addition, 17 percent of districts charge a locker fee, 15 percent charge a technology fee, 8 percent charge a registration fee and 7 percent charge a homeroom fee. One percent of respondents charge a late/tardy fee.

“The cost ranges from a high of $95 for school supplies and a low of $10 for locker fees,” the report said.

Of the respondents, 71 percent said they charge for extracurricular activities, with money going toward membership fees, uniforms and competition participation costs. Some districts indicated they have fundraisers to help with travel expenses.

Two districts assess fees for cellphone violations, according to the report. One of these districts, which was not identified in the report, charges students and parents up to $200 to obtain a phone that is seized by school staff.

“The assessment of fees to students attending public schools should be addressed with extreme caution in order to provide all students with equitable access to a quality education, particularly in a state whose student body is 71.3 percent economically disadvantaged,” the report concluded.

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Officials said all local school systems should have policies that outline the establishment, collection and use of fees. These policies should be widely distributed and publicly available.

“Local school governing authorities should regularly monitor the use of fees to ensure that they are appropriate, that fee revenue is being used for its intended purpose and that waivers to economically disadvantaged students are available, are applied for by the most at-risk students and being approved in a consistent manner,’ the report concluded.