Fees in Public

Schools
Nicholas Alan Emmons

Overview
Public schools are under financial stress
Operating costs are increasing
Teacher salaries
Utilities
Maintenance
Technology

Government support is decreasing

Property taxes are decreasing
School districts cannot fund all of their operations
Programs are being cut, staff is being reduced,
schools are being closed

Fees
To prevent programs from being cut, many people propose fees
These fees would allow the programs to continue to operate

without funds from the district

Programs that would require fees
Advanced-level classes
Specialty classes
Extracurricular activities and programs

Other fees
Registration
Instruction
Classroom supplies
Regular classroom supplies
Laboratory supplies for science classes

For
Fees in public schools allow programs to continue

operating
Without fees, programs would be cut
Many districts offer waivers to students from poor
families
Most programs fundraise to help offset the cost

Against
Fees prevent students from poor families from

participating in programs
These programs are essential aspects of school
Without these programs, students are missing out
on the full student experience
Fees barely impact the finances of school districts
School districts can generate revenue through
other options
Campaigning/fundraising
Convincing students from wealthy families to attend a

public school out of their attendance zone for a

Source A
General overview of the topic
Points of view reference center
Unbiased, presents both sides
Provides a brief history of public schools in America
Provides a glossary of important terms

Source B
Against fees
Point of view reference center
Presents one side

Source C
For fees
Point of view reference center
Presents one side

Source D
Graphic
Picture of money and athletic equipment
Main idea
Sports requires money (for fees and equipment)
Other extracurricular activities require money
(fees/dues)
Unbiased, programs require fees, factual, does not

take a side, reveals the obvious

Source E
National survey conducted by the Thomas B.

Fordham Institute
Analyzed only one chapter of survey report
Describes the rising cost of public school and how
school districts plan to pay for the rising cost
Reveals publics opinion to the various proposed
ways to cover the cost
In general, the public does not want the quality of
the education to go down

Source F
Article published by the South African government
Reveals how South African education system works
Two types of schools
Fee schools
No fee schools

Fee schools are in affluent areas

No fee schools are in poor areas
Waivers are available for fee schools
Designed to divide cost of public education between the

government and the affluent

Theoretically, poor families do not pay and receive the
same quality education

Discussion
Should public schools require fees for registration,

instruction, classroom supplies, and/or

extracurricular activities?
Should Horry County Schools charge a $10
registration fee every year?
Should Horry County Schools charge $50 for
insurance to take home Dell Venue Pro 11 tablets?
Should Saint James High School clubs charge
membership fees/dues?
Did I have a great presentation?
Questions, comments, concerns