A few things that surprised me when we first came to Nettelhorst were being asked to pay school fees and buy a long list of classroom supplies, not to mention filling out a packet of forms that asked the same question five different ways. I also wondered whose bright idea it was to have us complete the same forms every year even when none of the information had changed. Given my training as a newspaper reporter, I couldn’t help but dig into the background of these practices in hopes that having some context could make them less painful. Here is what I found.
A brief history of school fees
Yes, it’s crazy that we’re asked to pay fees at a public school. But it’s also crazy that Illinois legislators cut $1 billion from the education budget about 10 years ago during one of our state’s many financial crises. That forced public school leaders to look for new ways to cover their costs, as this article explains. Nettelhorst’s Local School Counsel authorized charging a school fee starting in September 2013. Today our student fees cover critical materials, supplies, and services the school budget can’t cover, including:
Instructional materials and supplies like math workbooks and lesson plans
Subscriptions to online learning programs like Khan Academy and RAZ Kids
Lunchroom and recess aides
Low-income families are exempt from paying the fee, which is $200 for one student, $400 for two students, and $500 for families with three or more students. If you are eligible, please pay your fees now if you haven't already to help give students the resources they need. Select “make a one-time payment” and have your student's ID number handy.
Digital school forms are here!
Here's the good news about school forms: there's now a digital version you can download and fill out on your computer. And the bad news: you still have to print them out and sign them by hand because CPS doesn't accept electronic signatures.
Why they ask for your family's income
Some families feel apprehensive about disclosing their income on the Family Income Information Form. However, the purpose of this form is to identify students who qualify for free or reduced lunch based on their household income, as defined by this chart. Some don’t even know they qualify until they fill it out. That’s why Principal Marburger urges everyone to complete this paperwork. However, if you know your salary is well above the low-income threshold and would prefer not to disclose it, you can write “N/A” in the box that asks for specific numbers. Just complete the rest of the form and turn it in with your packet.
–Laurie Cunningham, Communications Co-Chair
–Excerpted from a September 2022 Newsletter (Links and year-specific details updated)
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