MCPS Increases School Activities Fee

Montgomery County Public Schools students will have to pay a bit more to be involved in extracurricular activities next school year.

The School Board voted unanimously on Monday to up the Extracurricular Activity Fee from $30 per year to $32.50.

The increase will generate about $30,000 for the school system.

Students who pay the annual ECA fee are entitled to participate in one or more programs during the school year. The ECA fees help to offset the costs for operating after-school programs and for the transportation costs for activity buses.

In FY 2014, more than 24,000 students paid the ECA fee and generated $706,216.00 in revenue to support the programs. Students whose family income is below $35,000 and pay the reduced ECA fee of $15 per student would not be subject to the increase, according to Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers’ proposal.

According to school officials who testified at the meeting Monday, Fairfax County School system charges an activity fee of $90 per season and Frederick County’s school system charges $95 per sport per season. Prince George’s County, however, the official reported did not have an activity fee.

Board member Christopher Barclay suggested the fee structure be reexamined so students with financial hardship or families with multiple children in the school system could be made aware of relief from the fee.

“We want to charge our staff to make sure they are communicating clearly to principals and counseling staff the options that exist to ensure on child in a that position can participate,” he said.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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