Rhode Island district imposes fees for student participation in sports

From The Providence Journal: The North Smithfield (R.I.) School Committee has approved a plan to restore middle school and junior varsity sports by requiring students to pay to participate in the programs. Under the plan, students will be required to pay $150 per sport, per season, with a family cap of $275 per season. The vote flies in the face of a letter from Commissioner of Education Deborah A. Gist, who told the committee that charging students to participate in sports is against state law.

EARLIER...from The Providence Journal: The state of Rhode Island says school districts can’t legally charge students a fee to play sports. But the chairman of the North Smithfield School Committee is saying go ahead and try to stop us. The Department of Education has released a letter that reiterated its position that state law forbids districts from charging student athletes fees as a way to finance sports programs. But North Smithfield Committee Chairman Robert E. Lafleur says his district must either impose fees or cancel middle school and junior varsity sports.