FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SUMMARY TABLE

FREE SCHOOLING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Jointly developed by FCSSQ, FCPQ and RCPAQ.

A useful tool concerning the financial contributions that can be required from parents.

These summary tables on the legislative and regulatory frameworks applicable to free general education for young people have been drawn up jointly by the Fédération des centers de services scolaires du Québec (FCSSQ), the Fédération des comités de parents du Québec (FCPQ) and the Regroupement des comités de parents autonomes du Québec (RCPAQ).

A PDF version of this table is available. (in french)

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PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

The Governing Board establish, on the basis of the proposal from the principal of the school, the principles of the cost of documents in which the student are writing, drawing orcutting (art. 77.1 LIP)
The Governing Board approves the financial contributions proposed by the principal of the school (for services dispensed in the context of a pedagogical project in particular, for the school activities, for the equipment and for monitoring lunch periods), some of which are developed with the participation from staff members teacher (art. 75.0.1 LIP).
The Governing Board must put in place some measures aimed at at promoting access of every student to all services, activities, or equipment for which a financial contribution is required. He must inform the school board of any approved financial contribution under article 75.0.1 of the EA (art. 8 from Regulations relative to free schooling).
The Governing Board must, before approving any contribution, take into account the other contributions that they approved or which are submitted to them (art. 75.0.1 LIP).
The financial contributions required can not exceed the real cost of the good or from the service committed by the school (art.75.0.1 LIP).

No financial contribution may be demanded for a service, activity or material for which funding is provided under the budgetary rules. Such funding must be deducted from the required financial contribution when it covers part of the expenses incurred (art.10 Regulations on free schooling).
All financial contributions must be invoiced clearly and in detail (art. 9 Regulations on free schooling).
When a voluntary contribution or donation is requested, no amount relating to it may be included in the total shown on the invoice (art. 9 Regulations on free schooling).
No specific brand or supply company may be imposed on material for the student’s personal use, with the exception of activity or exercise books (art. 11 Regulations on free schooling).

	SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL PROJECT			PROJECT TYPE	REGULAR PROGRAM
	Sports Studies	Arts Studies	International Education	Concentration / Profile
	SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
Services providedunder the EA	Covered by free education (art. 1 EA).
Services other than those provided under the EA	Exception to free education if the school offers a financial contribution-free educational path (art. 3 EA).				Exception to free education, where applicable.
Administrative fees	Covered by free education: selection fees, file opening, exam administration, and staff training (art. 3 EA).				N/A
Fees for a coach or a specialist other than a teacher in the study program	Exception to free education (art. 3 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).				N/A
Renting of sports facility or room required for the implementation of the project	Exception to free education (art. 3 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).				N/A
Pedagogical coordination fees to enable the implementation of the project	Exception to free education (art. 3 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).				N/A
School activities outside the school premises	Exception to free education (art. 3 and 4 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).				N/A
School activities with the participation of a person other than a CSS staff member	Exception to free education (art. 3 and 4 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).				N/A
Accreditations	Exception to free education (art. 3 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).				N/A
Issuance of attestation by external organisation	N/A	N/A	Exception to free education (art. 3 EA and the Regulation respecting free education).	N/A	N/A

	SPECIAL PEDAGOGICAL PROJECT	REGULAR PROGRAM
	MATERIALS
Textbooks and instructional material requiredfor carrying out activity programs and teaching study programs, laboratory, physical‑education and art material, as well as technological devices	Covered by free schooling (Material and its upkeep – s. 7 EA and s. 5 of the Regulation respecting free schooling) Tools, machine tools, instruments, chemicals, and other scientific and technological material Balls, rackets, helmets, and other physical‑education items Paint, pastels, clay, and other visual‑arts supplies Reeds for wind instruments, recorders, and other musical instruments Novels and picture books, as well as reference works such as dictionaries, grammars, atlases, guides, encyclopedias (in any format) Photocopied texts, reproductions subject to copyright (e.g., sheet music) and any reprographic material replacing or supplementing a textbook Solid and geometric shapes, counters, base‑10 sets, dice, card games, and other manipulatives Modelling clay, wood, plaster, and similar materials Computers, laptops, tablets, technology apps, graphing calculators, headphones, and other technological tools Protective helmets, safety goggles, hair nets, and other protective items Sensory‑stimulation material intended in particular for students with disabilities or learning or adjustment difficulties Exception:specialized material specifically required for carrying out a special pedagogical project.	Covered by free schooling (Material and its upkeep – s. 7 EA and s. 5 of the Regulation respecting free schooling) Tools, machine tools, instruments, chemicals, and other scientific and technological material Balls, rackets, helmets, and other physical‑education items Paint, pastels, clay, and other visual‑arts supplies Reeds for wind instruments, recorders, and other musical instruments Novels and picture books, as well as reference works such as dictionaries, grammars, atlases, guides, encyclopedias (in any format) Photocopied texts, reproductions subject to copyright (e.g., sheet music) and any reprographic material replacing or supplementing a textbook Solid and geometric shapes, counters, base‑10 sets, dice, card games, and other manipulatives Modelling clay, wood, plaster, and similar materials Computers, laptops, tablets, technology apps, graphing calculators, headphones, and other technological tools Protective helmets, safety goggles, hair nets, and other protective items Sensory‑stimulation material intended in particular for students with disabilities or learning or adjustment difficulties
Classroom organization material or of the school	Covered by free schooling (Section 7 EA, conversely) Bins Locker shelves Storage boxes Tennis balls to be attached to chair legs
Health items, of hygiene and sanitation	Covered by free schooling (Section 10 of the Regulation respecting free schooling) Tissues and wipes Cleaning and disinfecting products
Material of personal use	Exceptionfree schooling (Section 7 EA and Regulation respecting free schooling) School supplies: pencils, erasers, planners Personal organization material: pencil cases, school bags Items related to clothing: school uniforms, physical‑education attire Documents in which the student writes, draws, or cuts Activity or exercise books and equivalent reprographic material, including digital versions Notebooks, pads of paper, folders, binders, dividers Basic and scientific calculators USB drives Rulers, protractors, set squares, compasses, geometry tools Highlighters, markers, pens, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, scissors, glue Running shoes, dance shoes, smocks, aprons, or protective shirts Towels and blankets for rest periods Personal‑use padlocks
Specialized material specifically required for carrying out a special pedagogical project	Additional exception: Section 6 of the Regulation respecting free schooling.
	SCHOOL TRANSPORT
Transport to school (daily arrival and dismissal from classes)	Covered by free schooling; however, when this transportation is provided under contract with a public transit authority or a licensed bus carrier, as defined by government regulation, a school service centre may charge the student the portion of the cost of a pass that corresponds to service beyond that required for daily arrival and dismissal (s. 292 EA).
Transport to a school activity outside the school facility	Exception free schooling (s. 4 of the Regulation respecting free schooling).
Midday transport noon and available seats	Exception free schooling (ss. 292 and 298 EA).
Transport to other facilities or environments other facilities or environments	Covered by free schooling if the transportation is linked to an educational service provided for in the Basic School Regulation. For example, transportation required for a physical‑education class held outside the school building.	Exception to free schooling: Transportation required for an educational service not provided for in the Basic School Regulation. For example, the daily transportation of students in an alpine‑ski concentration to a ski centre is not covered by free schooling.