Third Annual Parents Coalition Survey on School Fees

Stay tuned.

For those of you who have followed our blog faithfully, yes, I will be posting this year's list of curricular fees for high school students.  Right now, MCPS is in the process of responding to a public information request for the documents.

I've been asked why only high schools.  From my perspective, the practice regarding textbooks is most egregious in the high schools.  When  I look at the books my kids were required to purchase, many remained untouched, unused, and unassigned after purchase - so these could have easily been purchased by the school and reused year after year.

Of course, there was the infamous Blair towel too.  No, this could not have been reused, but again, this also was not a towel or used by my child or the kids in the carpool.

If you are interested in filing your own request for school fees at the elementary or middle school level, or for any other information, its easy to do.  Remember, information is presumed to be available to the public - its a public school system, supported by taxpayer dollars.  All you need to do is ask!

Here is a template.  Fill in the blanks and send it to pio@mcpsmd.org. and dana_tofig@mcpsmd.org

Under the Maryland Public Information Act, please provide copies of the  [insert request here - for school fees add  2010-2011 projected supplemental student fees for materials and other curricular expenses approved for each] [insert source of information - eg, middle schools, elementary schools] in MCPS.  

I request a "waiver" of the 30 day response time and any associated fees, and that you provide the materials responding to my request promptly.  

Kindly note that I will pick up the materials from your offices.  Please call me at [your phone number here] when the materials are available for pickup.

Thank you.

[your name here]