JLB - Financial Assistance

Policy JLB

Adopted: June 10, 2010
Amended: April 17, 2025

The Hopkinton Public Schools recognizes that parents or guardians may have difficulty paying district fees due to their financial circumstances at the time. This policy guides the process for determining waivers or reductions for school-related fees. The Business Office determines financial needs by using federal poverty guidelines. To limit access to this sensitive information, parents or guardians will return forms only to the district’s Business Office. Parents or guardians seeking financial assistance must follow the Financial Assistance Procedures as outlined in JLB-PRC1 Financial Assistance Program to allow the district to determine the fee reduction level.

Fee reductions or waivers apply to those set by the School Committee, as well as those charged by schools. Fees set by the School Committee include, but may not be limited to:

Student Transportation
Parking
Athletics
Pre-kindergarten tuitions

Fees set by the schools include, but are not limited to, the following:

Extracurricular activities
Field trips that fall under policy IJOA Field Trips Categories 1 and 2
Instrumental music
Class Dues
Dances
Yearbooks
Team wear other than school-issued uniforms for school-related activities

Parents or guardians seeking assistance for school activities such as those listed above should notify their child’s principal and, if they haven’t already, submit their Financial Assistance Determination form (JLB-FRM1) to the Business Office. The principal’s decision will be guided by the eligibility determination made by the Business Office and will be subject to the availability of funds. All principals will maintain the confidentiality of this information.

Fee reductions or waivers are available for Policy IJOA Categories 1 and 2 for students with need.

For Category 3, extracurricular trips, the school District may award limited financial aid based on level of demonstrated need and availability of gifted funds.

This policy does not exempt students from paying for the full cost of damages they have caused to school property, or a lost book or material charges.

The Business Office will make Financial Assistance Procedures forms regularly available in all school offices and the district website.

If the parent or guardian is not satisfied with the fee reduction level, he/she/they may appeal by letter first to the Director of Finance, and if not satisfied, by letter to the Superintendent of Schools whose decision will be final.

Legal References:

First Reading: April 15, 2010, November 1, 2018, April 25, 2024

Second Reading: May 13, 2010, January 3, 2019, April 3, 2025

Third Reading: June 10, 2010, April 17, 2025

Adopted: June 10, 2010

Policy Amended: May 2, 2013, January 3, 2019, April 17, 2025

Legal References

Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (79 P.L. 396, 60 Stat. 230), P.L. 108--265, MGL 71:26C, 71:47, 71:68, 71:72

Policy Cross Reference

JQA - Fees

JJH – Late Night and Overnight Student Travel

IJOA – Field Trips