This information will help you understand your rights and obligations, and the rules around school donations.
Examples of donations and payments for schools and kura#
| Key | Description |
|---|
| X | Parents cannot be asked for a donation and do not have to pay. |
| $ | Parents must pay for this if they have agreed to purchase. |
| D | Parents can be asked for a donation but do not have to pay. |
Enrolment#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Application fee | Other | X | X |
| Enrolment fee | Other | X | X |
| Out-of-zone ballot fee | Other | X | X |
| Bond | Other | X | X |
ICT#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Access to school network | Curriculum | X | D |
| Use of hardware | Curriculum | X | D |
| Contribution towards devices such as tablets, smartphones, netbooks, laptops, chromebooks | Curriculum | X | D |
| Requiring students to provide software or pay for software licenses | Curriculum | X | D |
| Requiring students to provide calculators | Curriculum | X | D |
| Purchase of non-compulsory hardware or software | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Programmes and courses#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Reading recovery and learning support | Curriculum | X | D |
| High school 'subject fees' | Curriculum | X | D |
| Specialist units (for example, Montessori, Arrowsmith, Te Reo Māori, Samoan language) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Supplementary programmes (for example, Mathletics, Education Perfect) | Curriculum | X | D |
| STAR courses | Curriculum | X | D |
| Tertiary-level courses offered as part of the school programme | Curriculum | X | D |
| Tertiary course (dual enrolment at tertiary institution) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Gifted Education programmes | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Resources and stationery#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Textbooks | Curriculum | X | D |
| Workbooks (compulsory) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Workbooks (optional, when parents have agreed to purchase) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Photocopying/printing as part of core education programme (curriculum use) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Photocopying/printing (personal and not needed for core programme learning, extra-curricular use) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Stationery (if parents decide to buy from school/kura stationery shop) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Swimming#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Swimming as part of general curriculum (at school/kura or off site) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Swimming as voluntary activity (lunch time or after hours) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Course materials#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Materials used as part of delivering core learning programme (curriculum) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Take-home component where parents have agreed to purchase (for example, a letterbox, an item of clothing) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Music#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Tuition from itinerant teachers of music | N/A | X | X |
| Tuition (course-related, but not from itinerant teachers of music) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Tuition (optional outside of general education programme, extra-curricular) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Instrument hire (course delivery) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Instrument hire (optional, extra-curricular) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Optional activities#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Visiting drama or music groups (non-curriculum) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Weekend sports teams | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| After-hours or lunchtime culture activities | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| After-hours or lunchtime sports activities | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| School sports teams | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| School ball | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Membership fees (for example, parent organisations, ex-student organisations) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| School magazine | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| School or kura uniform from a school or kura uniform shop | Goods and services | $ | $ |
Camps, trips and education outside the classroom#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Overnight camp as part of specific course (for example Year 12 Outdoor Education) | Curriculum | D | D |
| Overnight geography field trip | Curriculum | D | D |
| Trip/visit as part of general curriculum | Curriculum | X | D |
| Charge/fee for an optional event (for example, weekend ski trip, extra-curricular) | Goods and services | $ | $ |
| A forest hike as part of education outside the classroom (EOTC) | Curriculum | X | D |
| Multi-day tramp | Curriculum | D | D |
| Overnight camp as part of general education programme (curriculum) (for example Year 9 orientation camp, Year 7 EOTC camp) | Curriculum | D | D |
Attendance dues for state-integrated schools and kura#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme |
|---|
| Attendance dues | Compulsory | $ | $ |
Operational costs#
| Item | Category | School donation scheme | Not in school donation scheme |
|---|
| Heating, lighting, and water | Operational | X | X |
| Soap, hand sanitiser, tissues | Operational | X | X |
