PUBLIC SCHOOL IS FREE IN MARYLAND, THAT INCLUDES MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Today's article in The Washington Post puts out more bad information from Montgomery County Public Schools.

One more time, PUBLIC SCHOOL IS FREE in Maryland.  Anything that is directly related to the curriculum must be available to all students without charge!  The law is set by the Maryland Constitution and the Maryland Legislature.

The Montgomery County Board of Education does not make the law that governs how our public schools are run.

Note that in the statement below from today's Post article the Board of Education attorney does not use Maryland law to justify curricular fees.  What she says it that the Board of Education charges fees because they decided to do it on their own.

The following was included in today's Washington Post article:

"In a written response to The Washington Post’s inquiry about parent concerns, Montgomery schools attorney Judy Bresler wrote: “With regard to FAPE and special education, the school system is allowed to charge incidental fees that are normally charged to non-disabled students, unless—and this is important—it is specifically outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Generally, we can—and do—charge fees to non-disabled students to defray costs when the item they are using or getting becomes their property. This is consistent with the MCPS Policy on curricular expenses.”
Bresler gave an example of a student building a birdhouse for woodworking class. If the student takes the birdhouse home, the school can charge for the wood. Same for a student in a culinary arts class. If a student is using ingredients to prepare a meal, and will then eat that meal or take it home, the school can charge a fee.
“The same scenario would apply to a special education student, although it could vary depending on the specifics of the child’s IEP,” Bresler said."

HERE'S THE TRUTH.  

THE ACTUAL LAW AS STATED BY THE MARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

If your child is charged a fee for anything directly related to the curriculum, just say no! MCPS cannot legally force you to pay an illegal fee! 

  KameenOAGLetter by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland