FAQs about School Fees

How are school fees regulated in Alberta?

School fees are regulated by the Province of Alberta’s Education Act: School Fees Regulation (Alberta Regulation 95/2019). Alberta School Boards cannot charge fees for textbooks, workbooks or photocopying, printing or paper supplies.

Does EIPS charge school fees?

Yes, schools within EIPS may charge for noon-supervision, activities, non-core courses and other goods and services as required by each school.

Why does EIPS not use tax-generated revenue, instead of charging fees?

School jurisdictions receive funding from Alberta Education. The funding from Alberta Education is used by EIPS primarily for core school operations and services. School fees off-set the costs of supplemental or enhanced goods and services provided by EIPS such as noon-supervision, field-trips, extracurricular clubs and sports, and non-core classes such as construction and art.

Why are there fee discrepancies between school boards and between schools?

School boards work closely with administration to ensure the resources allocated by the government are invested in ways that best serve the educational needs and interests of students. As a result, school fees charged to families can often vary between school boards and schools. Although fees may have the same name, they may differ in what is being offered by a particular board or school.

Who sets fees for EIPS?

Each school examines programs and activities being offered and any required materials. Administration meets with the school council to discuss parameters and any potential changes—such as removals/reductions, additions or enhancements. Administration then develops or updates fees to include costs for program changes and brings them forward to discuss a second time with school council before submitting fees for review and approval by the Secretary-Treasurer and Superintendent. The costs determine the fees charged to families, and fees are set on a cost-recovery basis (see Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees).

How do I know EIPS is not making a profit by charging fees?

As per Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees, school fees shall be used within the school year and set on a cost-recovery basis. Additionally, fees cannot be charged in lieu of fundraising.

Fees are strictly used to cover a portion of the costs involved in delivering the program for which they are charged. Some fees are identified to cover the costs of specific optional activities, such as field trips, yearbooks and graduations. The fees related to these activities are not mandatory, should a student choose not to participate.

What measures did the Board take to ensure students achieve a quality education, but also to ensure fees are not cost‐prohibitive for parents?

Each December, the Board sets parameters for the upcoming school year’s fees. Principals meet twice with their respective school councils to discuss these parameters, existing fees, factors affecting fees, new fees, etc. In the spring, fees are submitted by schools for approval by the Secretary-Treasurer and Superintendent. Prior to fee approval, Financial Services reviews fees for compliance with the established parameters. Any fees exceeding the set parameters are checked for reasonableness and supporting cost calculations and explanations to ensure these fee increases are warranted. School administration will be contacted during the review process for clarification as required.

Why are some of the fees above the Board’s established thresholds?

Fees are based on cost-recovery. The costs of certain goods and services that are part of the school fees may have inflationary increases greater than the thresholds established by the Board of Trustees. Some of these costs could include transportation, consumable supplies, admission costs and supervision costs. Additionally, some programs may be enhanced which results in additional costs—examples include increasing the number of swimming lessons or participating in additional sports tournaments.

Where can I find my child's school fees?

Each EIPS school’s website has a listing of fees for the current year—not all will be applicable to your child. Your child's specific school fees can be accessed by logging into your PowerSchool Parent Portal and selecting the ‘Fees’ icon. Any assessed fees will be listed in each student’s account. Fees are typically assessed by the end of September, although additional fees may be added throughout the year.

When are fees due?

Fees are due within 30 days of being assessed. Parents/guardians and independent students have a number of payment options, including paying at the school and paying online using Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.

Are school supplies included in fees?

No. The purchase of general school supplies remains the responsibility of families. If schools are purchasing supplies in bulk on behalf of families, they can continue to do so on a cost-recovery basis. Families have the option of buying these supplies from the school or on their own.

What are the options if a parent cannot pay fees?

If circumstances exist where you’re unable to pay student fees, you can apply to have certain fees waived (see Waiver of Fees). If it's determined fees aren't eligible to be waived, based on the submitted application, payment options may be made with the school’s administration.

What if school fees remain unpaid?

If fees are not paid, they'll be forwarded to a collection agency and remain outstanding on the student’s account (see Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees). Outstanding fees may prevent the student from participation in certain programs or activities.