Statement on Fee Compliance and Charter School Law

To be in full compliance with the California Education Code, neither HSC nor the instructors who teach at HSC charge any upfront, out-of-pocket fees to parents of charter school students.

Prohibited Fees

Examples of prohibited fees include, but are not limited to:

• Out-of-pocket class tuition deposits
• Registration fees
• “Hold your seat” fees
• Membership fees
• Reservation fees
• “Change your charter” fees
• “Switch your class” fees
• Late fees
• “Defer your payment” fees

No version of these fees—no matter what they’re called or how they’re applied—should be charged to families attending charter schools, as they are not allowed under the California Education Code. If you’re unsure about any fee you’ve been asked to pay, we recommend checking with your charter school for clarification.

No Refund Workarounds

We respect and uphold the legal mandate that vendors and learning centers may not charge parents or guardians any additional fees for a charter school student to participate in a charter-funded educational program. Refunding parents after the fact—after receiving a charter purchase order—does not make an upfront fee lawful and does not bring the transaction into compliance with California Education Code.

Legal Guidance and System Integrity

Legal counsel for charter entities have clearly advised that charging any upfront, out-of-pocket fee(s) to families—regardless of refund status—violates California Education Code. The integrity of the California public charter school system depends on full compliance with these laws. Vendors or educational programs that attempt to circumvent them not only compromise student access but place the broader charter community at legal and operational risk.

Improper Use of Dual Entities

We do not operate two separate entities in which the first entity functions as a billing arm that is not contracted with any charter school and therefore collects private-pay fees from charter parents, while the second entity (or instructor) is a contracted vendor with the charter school, allowing parents to use charter funds to pay for tuition.

The creation of such a structure appears to constitute a “bait and switch” arrangement and may still fall under the same prohibitions outlined in the California Education Code. Separating billing and instructional services across two entities does not exempt either party from the law’s requirements if the student is ultimately enrolled in a public charter-funded program.

Relevant Legal References

• Education Code § 49011(a): “A pupil enrolled in a public school shall not be required to pay a pupil fee for participation in an educational activity.”
• 5 C.C.R. § 350: “A pupil enrolled in a school shall not be required to pay any fee, deposit, or other charge not specifically authorized by law.”
• Education Code § 49010(b): Defines a “pupil fee” as any fee, deposit, or other charge imposed on students or their parents or guardians.