District Policies

Student and Parent Responsibility for School Property

Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) provides students with various materials and equipment to support their education. Students and their parents/guardians share the responsibility for the proper care and return of this property. Key points regarding this responsibility include:

• Loaned Materials: 

  • Students and their parents/guardians are responsible for all school district property loaned to them, including but not limited to, library books, textbooks, athletic equipment, musical instruments, and technology.

• Proper Care: 

  • Students are expected to handle school property with care and prevent damage.

  • Students should keep issued school property in good condition and report any pre-existing damage upon checkout. 

• Return of Property: 

  • Students must return the exact item that was checked out to them by the designated return date or upon withdrawal from the school.

  • Replacement items will not be accepted in lieu of fines. 

• Willful Damage or Loss: 

  • Parents or guardians are responsible for the cost of replacing school district property that is willfully cut, defaced, injured, or not returned upon demand. This is in accordance with EC Section 48904(a)(1) and EC Section 49014(g)(1).

• Financial Responsibility: 

  • If school property is lost or willfully damaged, the parent/guardian will be responsible for reimbursement to the school or district for the replacement cost. 

  • Replacements from other sources are not accepted for lost or damaged items.

  • Fines may be assessed for things like water damage that renders the item unusable.

  • If a fine is paid for lost material and that material is returned in its original condition within 90 days and in the same school fiscal year in which the fine was paid, the student or parent may request a refund.

• Consequences for Non-Payment: 

  • As allowed by EC Section 48904(b)(1), the school district may, after affording the pupil their due process rights, withhold the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the student responsible for the damage until the damages are paid.

• Parent Notification and Due Process: 

  • Before withholding records, the school site will notify the parent or guardian in writing of the alleged misconduct.

• Opportunity to Work Off Debt:

  •  If the family is unable to pay for the damages or return the property, the school site shall provide a program of voluntary work for the student in lieu of monetary damages. Upon completion of the voluntary work, the students' records will be released. Schools may also offer other alternative, non-monetary forms of compensation with parental permission, complying with Labor Code provisions for youth employment.

• Exceptions for Homeless and Foster Youth: 

  • The provisions regarding financial responsibility for lost, damaged, or unreturned books, supplies, or property do not apply if the pupil is a current or former homeless child or youth or a current or former foster youth [EC Section 49014(g)(2)].

It is important for students and parents to understand their responsibilities regarding school property to ensure equitable access to resources and avoid potential consequences. Please contact your school's administration if you have any questions regarding these policies or contact the department that issued the materials.