North Dakota Code 15.1-09-36 – School board – Authority over student fees
1. A school board may not charge a fee for textbooks or other items necessary for completion of a specific course required for grade advancement or graduation.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 15.1-09-36
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- year: means twelve consecutive months. See North Dakota Code 1-01-33
2. A school board may:
a. Require that a student pay a security deposit for the return of textbooks, materials, supplies, or equipment.
b. Assess a student a use charge if a textbook or other item covered under subsection 1 has received undue wear.
c. Require that a student furnish personal or consumable items.
d. Require that a student pay an admission fee or other charges for extracurricular or noncurricular activities if the student’s attendance is optional.
e. Require that a student pay a fee or a premium for any authorized student health and accident benefit plan.
f. Require that a student pay a fee for personal athletic equipment and apparel; provided the board shall allow a student to use the student’s own equipment and apparel if it meets reasonable health and safety standards established by the board.
g. Require that a student pay a fee in any program which generates a product that becomes the personal property of the student.
h. Require that a student pay a fee for behind-the-wheel driver’s education instruction.
i. Require that a student pay a fee for goods, including textbooks, and services provided in connection with any postsecondary level program or any program established outside regular elementary, middle school, or secondary school programs, including career and technical programs, and adult or continuing education programs.
j. Require that a student pay a fee for the use of a musical instrument owned or rented by the school district, provided that the total fee payable by the student for a school year does not exceed the annual rental cost to the district or the annual depreciation plus actual maintenance cost for the instrument.
k. Require that a student pay any other fees and charges permitted by statute.
3. A board may waive any fee if a student or the student’s parent or guardian is unable to pay the fee.
4. A board may not deny or abridge a student’s rights or privileges, including the receipt of grades and diplomas, because of the nonpayment of fees. A board, however, may withhold a student’s diploma for failure to pay for costs incurred by the student’s own negligence or choice, including fines for damaged textbooks and school equipment, library fines, and materials purchased from the school at the option of the student.
5. This section does not preclude the operation of a school store where students may purchase school supplies and materials.
6. If a board charges fees not authorized by law and refuses to discontinue the charges when directed to do so by the superintendent of public instruction, the superintendent shall withhold the state aid payments to which the district is entitled for each student charged an unauthorized fee.