• Support Us
  • Tales from the Meeting
facebook
rss
twitter
youtube
email
pinterest
  • Home
  • District Sites
  • Categories
    • Advocacy
    • Data and Accountability Center
    • Family-School Partnerships
    • Funding and Finance
    • School Policy and Procedure
    • Special Education
    • Standards
  • Glossary
  • Special Reports
    • Alabama Accountability Act (AAA)
    • Bullying Forum Resources
    • The Hidden Cost of Public Education
    • Student Harassment Prevention Act
    • Transparency Projects – 2010 and 2009
    • Reports and Stuff
  • About
    • About Us
    • Business Documents
    • Ethics Policy
    • Fundraising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Our Supporters
  • 2016 Legislative Session
    • 2015 Legislative Summary
    • 2014 Legislative Summary
    • 2013 Legislative Summary
    • 2012 Legislative Summary
    • 2011 Legislative Summary
  • Support Us
Latest News
Goodbye. But only for a moment
Special Education Services Division Complaint Resolved
Enrollment Opens for Alabama’s Non-Traditional High School Diploma
Some Answers About the Alabama Accountability Act from New Reports Mandated by Law
State Department Violated Federal Disability Laws, Test Accommodation Policy Must Be Rewritten
What the Annual Alabama “School Incident Report” Shows
Alabama’s A-F School Grading System Is Almost Ready
Wanna Know More About Who Gets Paddled in Alabama’s Schools?
More Than 90,000 Alabama Students and Nearly 15,000 Teachers Missed a LOT of School – Look Up Your School
How Alabama Compares in the Latest ACT College and Career Readiness Report

The Hidden Cost of Public Education – Part 1: Dues and Fees

Posted On Feb 06 2014
By : Trisha Powell Crain
Comment: 0
Tag: 2014 Alabama Legislative Session, Alabama State Legislature, Education Data, education trust fund

Hidden Cost of Public Education Part 1Families with children enrolled in Alabama’s K-12 public schools are footing more of the cost of public education than they were in 2007. Until now, the numbers showing exactly how much more have evaded public view.

Over the next few weeks, Alabama’s state legislators will consider and ultimately determine how much money to appropriate to Alabama’s K-12 public schools. To make a fair determination, they need to know how much of the cost of public education is being funded out of Alabama’s families’ pockets.

In this series, you will learn how much money and for what reasons families are paying dues and fees to educate their children in public school.

Required Dues and Fees

“Required dues and fees”, the focus of Part 1, are those monies paid to the local school by families on behalf of students for academic reasons, including fees paid for lockers and parking and driver’s education. Monies paid for extracurricular or club activities are considered to be “self-imposed” and are not included here. Those fees are reported separately and will be the subject of a future post. 

According to state law, “No fees of any kind shall be collected from children attending any of the first six grades during the school term supported by public taxation” (Code of Alabama, Section 16-10-6). That has been interpreted to mean Kindergarten through fifth grade.

School districts also are not allowed to collect fees for any courses required for graduation (Code of Alabama, Section 16-13-13). The definition of required courses is stated in section 16-6B-2  of the Code of Alabama: “courses which are required to be taken by every student enrolled in public schools in the State of Alabama”.

The ALSDE has issued guidance to school districts about student fees, stating:

Student fees (excluding drivers education) may only be charged for materials and equipment used in instructional courses, and that the fees collected may only be used in the course for which the fee was collected.  Actions against the non-paying student, such as withholding grades, report cards, transcripts, academic recognitions, and graduation activities, are prohibited.

Required Dues and Fees Increased by 33%

During FY13, Alabama’s schools collected $37.7 million from students for required dues and fees. In FY07, the total amount collected was $28.3 million.

In other words, out-of-pocket required fees increased 33% from FY07 to FY13. State funding for public schools provided through the K-12 Foundation Program decreased by approximately 3.5% during the same period of time.

The average amount collected, on a per student basis, increased from $72.22 in FY07 to $95.84 in FY13.

The map below reflects how much money is being collected in each school district for required dues and fees.

Click on a school district to view:

  • Total amount collected for required dues and fees in FY13 and FY07
  • Total enrollment in grades six to 12 for school years 2012-2013 and 2006-2007
  • Amount per student (grade six to 12)  paid in dues and fees for FY13 and FY07


NOTE: Mapping tools are not available for Chickasaw City or Satsuma City. Their district data is included in both the table and full spreadsheet linked below.

Here is a table of the same data used in the map above. Click on the column headings to sort.

School DistrictFY13 Per StudentFY07 Per Student
ALBERTVILLE CITY23.290.00
ALEXANDER CITY59.7690.64
ANDALUSIA CITY9.814.25
ANNISTON CITY15.9516.38
ARAB CITY398.78263.16
ATHENS CITY89.7483.60
ATTALLA CITY58.7865.43
AUBURN CITY245.77237.37
AUTAUGA COUNTY37.1629.57
BALDWIN COUNTY158.4177.08
BARBOUR COUNTY5.960.16
BESSEMER CITY175.9296.38
BIBB COUNTY135.11115.96
BIRMINGHAM CITY0.000.07
BLOUNT COUNTY50.4225.58
BOAZ CITY217.17188.08
BREWTON CITY22.0715.78
BULLOCK COUNTY6.700.59
BUTLER COUNTY143.1627.09
CALHOUN COUNTY52.7069.72
CHAMBERS COUNTY45.4329.54
CHEROKEE COUNTY73.2558.70
CHICKASAW CITY96.740.00
CHILTON COUNTY78.6239.52
CHOCTAW COUNTY11.6112.07
CLARKE COUNTY111.7650.37
CLAY COUNTY82.4353.68
CLEBURNE COUNTY72.7654.72
COFFEE COUNTY179.8970.37
COLBERT COUNTY30.1911.64
CONECUH COUNTY80.2546.32
COOSA COUNTY32.6415.01
COVINGTON COUNTY49.2723.98
CRENSHAW COUNTY35.438.53
CULLMAN CITY72.3270.54
CULLMAN COUNTY84.3773.08
DALE COUNTY56.9828.08
DALEVILLE CITY48.0219.96
DALLAS COUNTY65.8527.90
DECATUR CITY23.079.66
DEKALB COUNTY34.4938.93
DEMOPOLIS CITY85.1357.85
DOTHAN CITY61.4364.12
ELBA CITY73.6745.22
ELMORE COUNTY43.7223.44
ENTERPRISE CITY120.4163.38
ESCAMBIA COUNTY49.0839.09
ETOWAH COUNTY43.140.00
EUFAULA CITY113.9786.22
FAIRFIELD CITY83.9175.59
FAYETTE COUNTY73.7160.34
FLORENCE CITY76.3169.24
FORT PAYNE CITY46.6322.71
FRANKLIN COUNTY41.8530.42
GADSDEN CITY90.7066.16
GENEVA CITY21.9719.24
GENEVA COUNTY31.5318.91
GREENE COUNTY8.2216.99
GUNTERSVILLE CITY164.87146.50
HALE COUNTY30.7640.73
HALEYVILLE CITY49.6524.29
HARTSELLE CITY53.3828.93
HENRY COUNTY46.4137.64
HOMEWOOD CITY214.08142.89
HOOVER CITY311.34286.35
HOUSTON COUNTY58.2651.47
HUNTSVILLE CITY123.030.00
JACKSON COUNTY48.9625.34
JACKSONVILLE CITY56.1366.90
JASPER CITY112.1344.26
JEFFERSON COUNTY98.10189.60
LAMAR COUNTY67.1142.34
LANETT CITY40.8731.09
LAUDERDALE COUNTY70.7356.81
LAWRENCE COUNTY78.6161.95
LEE COUNTY120.6983.88
LEEDS CITY147.59134.96
LIMESTONE COUNTY42.2038.77
LINDEN CITY35.9179.44
LOWNDES COUNTY15.852.21
MACON COUNTY43.4620.20
MADISON CITY182.38164.96
MADISON COUNTY52.7238.19
MARENGO COUNTY63.049.68
MARION COUNTY45.2750.61
MARSHALL COUNTY173.34146.39
MIDFIELD CITY26.4064.36
MOBILE COUNTY122.3198.01
MONROE COUNTY65.0248.63
MONTGOMERY COUNTY49.7147.28
MORGAN COUNTY73.2249.66
MOUNTAIN BROOK CITY347.88387.58
MUSCLE SHOALS CITY98.8378.10
ONEONTA CITY169.0943.10
OPELIKA CITY147.3076.18
OPP CITY7.616.40
OXFORD CITY204.99203.47
OZARK CITY73.48107.37
PELL CITY76.7977.20
PERRY COUNTY71.6281.07
PHENIX CITY198.35138.06
PICKENS COUNTY57.0844.55
PIEDMONT CITY113.5836.87
PIKE COUNTY37.6148.94
RANDOLPH COUNTY46.6326.61
ROANOKE CITY117.90106.01
RUSSELL COUNTY73.0739.97
RUSSELLVILLE CITY66.2442.88
SARALAND CITY142.950.00
SATSUMA CITY189.640.00
SCOTTSBORO CITY53.4533.84
SELMA CITY75.2555.22
SHEFFIELD CITY21.4332.49
SHELBY COUNTY128.49143.76
ST CLAIR COUNTY59.8150.99
SUMTER COUNTY1.5714.15
SYLACAUGA CITY108.4133.79
TALLADEGA CITY70.3128.99
TALLADEGA COUNTY68.9421.38
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY47.1138.85
TALLASSEE CITY34.5016.49
TARRANT CITY41.5022.24
THOMASVILLE CITY224.7559.20
TROY CITY61.0337.98
TRUSSVILLE CITY502.32229.28
TUSCALOOSA CITY42.5447.19
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY50.8152.49
TUSCUMBIA CITY187.36120.65
VESTAVIA HILLS CITY268.4559.61
WALKER COUNTY44.9651.57
WASHINGTON COUNTY34.380.00
WILCOX COUNTY3.658.08
WINFIELD CITY59.6230.39
WINSTON COUNTY35.8532.50

Here’s the full Excel spreadsheet for those interested in the data.

Why Does This Matter?

This analysis clearly indicates that overall collections of fees increased by, on average, 33% from FY07 to FY13. In some districts, those fees increased at an even higher percentage.

This analysis reveals which districts are collecting more out of families’ pockets than others. In doing so, it reveals the inequality of the haves and have-nots, and how much additional money the haves are investing in their children’s education. These fees likely allow a wider range of class offerings and more access to technology and other goodies bought with discretionary funds.

Most districts collecting user fees from families are city systems. Only seven of the 36 districts collecting more than $100 per grade six through 12 student are county systems. Of the 84 districts collecting more than $50 per grade six through 12 student, only 31 are county systems.

Rising user fees for public education promise to increase the divide between the haves and have-nots. Is this good for our public education system?

This raises the question of whether funding mechanisms are working properly in our public schools. If so, why are more and more of the costs shifting to families in the form of user fees?

In Part 2 of the series, you will get a look at the kinds of user fees school districts are charging children in our public schools.

———————————————————————————-

Required Dues and Fees: The Numbers Used for This Analysis

The numbers used in this analysis were obtained from Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)  financial reports for FY07 and FY13 reflecting collections reported by school districts under revenue code “7260”. Alabama’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.

Because fees are not required of students in Kindergarten through fifth grade, enrollment numbers used in this analysis only reflect students enrolled in grades six through 12 for each district. Enrollment data for the 2006-2007 school year is coupled with FY07; 2012-2013 enrollment data is coupled with FY13. Enrollment figures were obtained from Public Data reports in the ALSDE Report Portal.

Per student amounts were calculated for each district by dividing the total collected under 7260 by the enrollment figures for grades six through 12 for each year.

A Note Regarding Reliability of Data

The data used in this analysis is, of course, only as reliable as it is reported accurately by local school districts. While all school districts are required to use the same accounting codes and accounting standards, differences in reporting likely exist. It is impossible to determine whether school districts are accurately recording dues and fees that they require parents and families to pay without individually questioning all bookkeepers across all 134 school districts. Some inconsistencies are glaring, for example, Birmingham City School district had zero collections reported under revenue code 7260 for FY13.

Submitting a public information request is not a method that has proved timely and fruitful, thus these publicly-available numbers are used.

—————————————————————————–

To school district officials: if you disagree with the numbers in this analysis, please provide full financial reports outlining transactions attributed to revenue code 7260 for FY07 and FY13. The data should include cost center, function, program and object codes and be transmitted electronically in Excel format.

Data must be submitted within one week of your initial request for review. Data that is not submitted within a week of the review request will not be considered, and the review will be terminated. Requests for review must be received by February 24, 2014. Data must be received by March 3, 2014. Send requests to asc(at)alabamaschoolconnection.org.

Without full cooperation and access to school personnel to answer questions and reformat data if necessary, it is possible that reviews will be unable to be completed. Wherever possible, reviews will be completed within 120 days of receiving the data if full cooperation is obtained.

 

Share this

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
About the Author
    Previous Story

    Web Site Redo for Alabama State Department of Education

    Next Story

    Sovereign Immunity Bill – Public Hearing – Wednesday, February 12 – 1:00 p.m.

    Related Posts

    9

    Did Teacher Raises Get Eaten by Health Insurance Hikes?

    Posted On May 11 2016
    , By Trisha Powell Crain
    0

    How State Lawmakers’ Decisions Impacted Money for Schools This Year

    Posted On May 11 2016
    , By Trisha Powell Crain
    0

    Big Education Issues on the Table for Alabama’s Lawmakers

    Posted On Mar 30 2016
    , By Trisha Powell Crain
    0

    Who Represents Your School District? You Oughta Know

    Posted On Oct 04 2015
    , By Trisha Powell Crain

    Alabama School Connection Tweets

    Tweets by @ALSchoolConnect

    School Tweets – direct from Twitter

    Tweets from https://twitter.com/ALSchoolConnect/lists/al-k-12-twitter
    Creative Commons License
    This work by Alabama School Connection is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

    Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy

    Past Editions of K-12 Must-Read News

    August 29 to September 25, 2016
    July 25 to August 28, 2016
    June 24 to July 24, 2016
    May 23 to June 23, 2016
    May 2 to May 22, 2016
    April 18 to May 1, 2016
    March 16 to April 17, 2016
    February 23 to March 15, 2016
    February 1 to February 22, 2016
    January 11 to January 31, 2016
    December 21, 2015, thru January 10, 2016
    November 30 thru December 20
    November 11 thru November 30
    October 21 thru November 10
    October 6 thru October 20
    September 14 thru October 5
    August 24 thru September 13
    August 3 thru August 23
    July 16 thru August 2
    June 18 thru July 13
    May 19 thru June 17, 2015
    May 18, 2015
    April 27, 2015
    March 30, 2015
    March 11, 2015
    February 2, 2015
    January 5, 2015
    December 16, 2014

    All past editions available on Storify at https://storify.com/ALSchoolConnect

    This website is intended for informational purposes only. The ASC is a nonprofit news organization and exists only to keep the public informed of issues as they relate to the K-12 education system in Alabama. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately at the e-mail link below. The ASC does not maintain offices nor a working telephone number dedicated for the organization. Links are provided as a courtesy, not as an endorsement.
    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.