Payment and Work Contracts for lost/damaged materials and fines.

The California Education Code states that parents are responsible to pay for lost/damaged materials. A payment plan can be arranged with an administrator's okay.

However, when the parent cannot pay, the student may complete volunteer work for the school in lieu of payment.

Overdue, Damaged or Lost Instructional Materials

From the California Education Code

48904 (1) Any school district or private school whose real or personal property has been willfully cut, defaced, or otherwise injured, or whose property is loaned to a pupil and willfully not returned upon demand of an employee of the district or private school authorized to make the demand may, after affording the pupil his or her due process rights, withhold the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the pupil responsible for the damage until the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian has paid for the damages thereto, as provided in subdivision (a).

48904 (2) When the minor and parent are unable to pay for the damages, or to return the property, the school district or private school shall provide a program of voluntary work for the minor in lieu of the payment of monetary damages. Upon completion of the voluntary work, the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the pupil shall be released.

Please note, you cannot collect debts from Homeless Youth:

Public School Fair Debt Collection Act

See EC Section 48904 amended September 20, 2018

(g) (1) This section shall not apply to debt owed as a result of vandalism or to cover the replacement cost of public school or school district books, supplies, or property loaned to a pupil that the pupil fails to return or that are willfully cut, defaced, or otherwise injured. A public school or school district may offer a pupil or former pupil, with the permission of the parent or guardian of the pupil or former pupil, alternative, nonmonetary forms of compensation to settle debt described in this paragraph. Alternatives that include service or work in exchange for repayment of a debt shall comply with all provisions of the Labor Code, including those sections relating to youth employment.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the pupil is a current or former homeless child or youth or a current or former foster youth.

See Also:

• Lost Books

• Read Off Fines

• Classroom Libraries

• Payment Contract

• Williams Settlement