The department recognises that parents have high expectations for their children and believe that access to education opportunities is critical for their children?s prospects. Schools will have regard to the following when setting and collecting levies and charges:
These five principles apply in relation to all students in all Government schools, special schools and colleges.
The charging of levies has been integral to the operation of Tasmanian Government Schools since the 19th Century. Levies are the established means whereby parents/carers contribute towards the cost of their children's education.
The authority to levy charges in a State school is provided under Section 41 of the Education Act 1994.
Contributions made by parents/carers represent only a very small proportion, under two per cent, of the total cost of operating government schools in Tasmania. However, at an individual school level student levies are an important resource. The department has a high expectation that those parents with the capacity to pay levies will do so, and it will take reasonable action to recover money where payments remain outstanding.
In recognition of the impact of levies on low-income families, schools offer flexible and negotiated payment options to assist parents to budget for this cost. In addition, eligible parents/carers can also apply for financial assistance through the department's Student Assistance Scheme (STAS).
This policy is based on the premise that each student will undertake an education program in the course of a year made up of a selection of required and elective programs.
Schools also fulfil an important role in allowing students access to a range of other activities beyond the scope of the education program.
The concept of the education program and other activities underpin the structure of this policy on levies and other charges.
A levy is a financial contribution by parents/carers relating to the costs associated with each student's participation in their education program. Levy items are typically consumables that the student uses during the school year such as stationery, photocopying and technology consumables such as computer printing paper; or the costs of services such as bus hire and entry fees that are essential to delivery of the education program.
The provision of levy funded items e.g. stationery packs, to all students undertaking the same program must be of equal value regardless of whether they are eligible for the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) or not.
In relation to programs with high consumable costs e.g. MDT, Home Economics and other technology subjects, the levy must provide that materials supplied to all students participating will be of equal value and adequate to complete the requirements of the course and ensure a quality learning experience. Materials over and above this can be chargeable. By way of example: where students are designing and making something within a design brief, the value of alternative combinations of materials should be the same for each student. The materials available to all students must enable them to demonstrate understanding to the highest level to which they are capable. If some students elect to make higher cost items by using different materials, then the additional cost would be chargeable.
Levies cannot be used to charge for teacher salaries, or for the cost of relief teachers, either directly or indirectly. Levies are not a source of general revenue and cannot be raised to supplement areas of school funding such as building maintenance, purchase of equipment or energy costs.
Examples of items and services for which a levy can be charged are listed in Schedule 1.
Students assessed as eligible for the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) are not required to pay levies.
Schools may charge for additional consumables over and above that supplied as the amount considered appropriate for the delivery of the education program. Examples of this would include replacement stationery items; extra ICT printing i.e. over and above the normal printing allowance for that course; and additional materials for high cost programs as described in section 4 of this policy.
Schools may charge for activities that are beyond the scope of the student?s education program. Sport is one area with a wide diversity of opportunity for participation in activities extending well beyond the school's normal health and physical education (HPE) program often involving external organisations. Schools may apply a charge for specific sporting activities where these are beyond the scope of the school's HPE program.
Examples of items for which a charge can be made are listed in Schedule 2.
Students assessed as eligible for the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) may be required to pay for other charges consistent with school policy.
Where other charges are applied school policy must be developed to take account of issues of:
Where an item does not appear on the schedule of 'examples of levies' or 'examples of other charges', in order to determine its classification schools must have regard to the following criteria.
No one criterion in itself should necessarily determine the classification but a combination of factors grounded in a fair notion of equity, education value and inclusion.
Camps are an example of an activity that would be subject to assessment under these criteria.
If a grade 7 camp is held at the start of the school year to assist students with the transition from primary to secondary school, this would be clearly a levy activity (and hence STAS students would not be charged).
If the school offers a weekend ski trip to Ben Lomond for 20 students from across the school, then it is likely that this could be a chargeable activity (and hence STAS students would pay if they participate).
In recognition of the impact of levies on low-income families, the department offers financial assistance to eligible parents/carers through its Student Assistance Scheme (STAS). Students assessed as eligible for STAS are exempted from paying school levies, however STAS students may still be required to pay other charges.
STAS procedures, eligibility and per capita rates are detailed in the department's STAS Guidelines.
Schools are provided with assistance for STAS students in the following ways. A STAS Per-Capita grant and a Discretionary Levy Compensation grant are provided in the Schools Resource Package (SRP). In addition, STAS student numbers are used to calculate an Educational Needs Index (ENI) for each school. The ENI is used to allocate resources under a number of programs, including teacher staffing and the General Support and Maintenance Allocations in the SRP.
Schools who require more information in relation to these funding arrangements should contact the Manager (Finance & Resources) on (03) 6233 7087.
The department expects that school philosophies and approaches to levy setting will comply with the spirit of the principles outlined in section 1 of this policy.
This policy is in part a response to issues raised in the Anglicare Report "Two Classes in One Room". These issues should be give close consideration by schools in setting and administering policies relating to levies and other charges.
The ongoing development of partnership agreements between schools and their communities provides opportunities for the parent community to have increasing involvement in school decision making processes, including those associated with school levies. In addition, School Associations are empowered, under Section 31(a) of the Education Act 1994, to 'approve the school plan and budget', of which levies are an integrated and very visible element. Where a school association does not exist, consultation with the school community should occur. Care should be taken to ensure that the views of low income parents are represented in any consultative process.
Feedback from parents and schools and analysis of existing school practices indicates that the following are some 'Best Practice' approaches to the setting of levies and other charges. All schools are expected to adopt similar school levy policies and practices within the spirit and intent of the levy principles.
The department expects that school philosophies and approaches to levy collection will comply with the spirit of the levy principles outlined in section 1 of this policy.
Feedback from parents and schools indicates that the following are 'Best Practice' approaches to the collection of levies and other charges. All schools are expected to adopt similar school level policies and practices within the spirit and intent of the levy principles.
It is recognised that schools conduct a range of traditional activities that form no part of the 'levy' or 'other charge' structure. In these matters, schools are expected to develop local approaches that take account of issues of inclusiveness, cost, good notice periods and flexible payment options. These activities include:
The department recognises that leaver activities have become an entrenched feature in many schools, but care should be given to reinforce retention strategies i.e. students are 'moving on' from year 6 or year 10 not leaving the education system. To allow all students to participate, regardless of financial circumstances, schools are asked to give due to consideration to the issue of cost.
Care should be taken to ensure that fundraising activities are sensitive to the circumstances of low-income families. In particular care should be taken that inadvertent pressure is not applied to the children of low-income families to participate in school fundraising activities. Similarly fundraising activities should be sensitive to issues of inclusiveness. By way of example: all students are able to participate in a plain clothes day and processes are put in place to ensure that the donation of money is purely voluntary.
The sale or hire of student uniforms is not regarded as being a levy activity. However, schools are encouraged to make low cost options available and consider issues of equity and inclusiveness.
Activities subject to charges such as out-of-school hours tuition e.g. music, tennis.
Section 41(4) of the Education Act 1994 provides that 'the principal of a State school, with the agreement of the school council, may charge for activities which are in addition to the normal educational instruction at that State school'.
The Clause Notes that supported the Education Bill state: 'This sub clause is intended to cover out-of-hours programs such as 'private' tennis or music tuition for which a fee would be charged. This Clause is worded so that schools without school councils may not avail themselves of its provision. The wording is deliberate to ensure proper community involvement in this sort of revenue creation. This sub clause could not be used to charge for the normal teaching program as this is expressly forbidden under 41(1)'.
Some schools offer these activities during school hours. Similarly if they are beyond the scope of the education program then a charge can be made.
The department can provide advice about risk management and insurance, including the lack of need for schools to charge for student insurance policies.
The activities are generally commercial activities. Care should be taken to ensure that inadvertent pressure is not applied to children and their parent/carers to purchase these items.
P&F levies must be entirely voluntary and care should be taken to ensure that inadvertent pressure is not applied to parent/carers to pay.
Examples of 'levy' items associated with a student's education program.
* In relation to programs with high consumable costs e.g. MDT, Home Economics and other technology subjects, if a separate levy is charged, then it should be on the basis of ensuring that all students participating in the course will have access to equivalent resources which should be adequate to complete the requirements of the course and ensure a quality learning experience. Materials over and above this can be chargeable. For example, where students are designing and making something within a design brief, an equivalent amount of resources should be available for each student. This amount available to each student must be sufficient to enable them to demonstrate understanding to the highest level to which they are capable. If some students elect to make higher cost items by using different materials, then the additional cost could be chargeable.
Examples of items for which "other charges" can be made:
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This page was last modified on 15th May 2009. The URL for this page is: http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/parents/costs/levy.
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