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A top Maryland lawmaker will seek to make it illegal for any school system to charge students for curricular fees.
Del. Kumar P. Barve, the House Majority Leader, said Tuesday that he would file a bill before the upcoming General Assembly session in January to prohibit parents from paying the expenses.
"The purpose of public school education is to allow each child to get a great education regardless of their economic background," said Barve (D-Dist. 17) of Gaithersburg. "I don't think it's wise … to stratify students between those who can afford the fees and those who can't."
There has been growing contention the last two weeks over the fees. Some parents have criticized the school system for charging for certain classes, saying that anything related to public education should be free.
Documents show that some schools will charge its students much more than others. Clarksburg High School is scheduled to charge its students 220 fees, including $35 for a food trends class; $90 for a workbook and tools for a network class; and $30 for a photography class.
John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring will only charge 16 fees, according to documents, including $35 for an international food class and $20 for an SAT Prep workbook.
School leaders contend that students can participate in the class even if they can't pay the fees.
Students should be "studying classes, not filling out forms" for school fees, Barve said. "We brought record amounts of money home to Montgomery County Public Schools."