Dear Parents,

California law does not allow school districts to charge fees to students for curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular activities.  The law does allow school districts to charge fees in specific situations.  Those permissible fees are outlined in a FAQ from the Orange County Department of Education’s Schools Legal Services division.  Click HERE to view the Frequently Asked Questions.

Due to constraints resulting from reductions in State funding for schools over the past several years, BOUSD has looked to maintain the high level of programs expected by our community through the solicitation of donations from participants and their families.  This long standing practice is still legal and acceptable.  The law is also very clear that all students must be allowed to participate in curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular activities, without sanctions or limitations, regardless of whether a student or his/her family makes a donation.

We are working carefully with staff and all groups on campus to ensure that donations are requested only to help defer, or offset, the additional costs of running and maintaining our exceptional programs and activities at their current high level.  Without your support of these programs through your donations, we will be required to redesign these programs to match the very limited funding provided by the State.  While we will continue to offer as many programs as possible at no cost to students and their parents, please be aware that your voluntary donations help to make the experiences students have at our schools more enriched and extensive.

Sincerely,
 

A. J. “Skip” Roland, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Brea Olinda Unified School District