How does it go again with the parental contribution?.

How does it go again with the parental contribution?.

Most schools have started again by now. It is the time when schools ask parents for a parental contribution. Parents can feel pressured. But how does it go again? Are parents required to pay?

No, parents are not required to send money to the school. In secondary education, the parental contribution, as in primary and special education, is a voluntary contribution. Schools may ask for a contribution, but parents are not required to pay it. Parents can make their own choice about this. The school participation council must agree on the amount and purpose of the contribution.

Never exclude

Not paying the parental contribution must not be a reason to exclude students from school activities. This means a school may not exclude a student from, for example, a school trip, not even by offering a replacement activity at school. In July this year, the Senate approved the initiative law that regulates this. The House of Representatives had already agreed earlier. The new law will officially take effect on August 1, 2021. However, schools are already asked to follow the new law this school year, 2020-2021.

Update: From August 1, 2021, the law on the voluntary parental contribution (in primary and secondary education) is tightened. The core of the change: all students must be able to participate in activities organized by the school, even if parents do not pay the voluntary parental contribution. Schools must explicitly mention this in the school guide and school plan. For more information, read the article about school costs in the Knowledge Base.

Questions

If you have questions about the parental contribution, you can look in our Knowledge Base. You can also call our staff on weekdays at 088-6050101 or email vraag@oudersenonderwijs.nl.