Fees, charges and donations
Requirements and information for schools and parents about what schools can charge for and how schools can opt in to the donations scheme.
Level of compliance | Main audience | Other |
---|---|---|
Required |
|
|
Where schools and kura request donations, it is their responsibility to ensure the voluntary nature of these requests is clear to their parent community. If your school is eligible and chooses to opt-in to the Donations scheme, you cannot ask for donations, with the exception of overnight camps. State schools and kura cannot charge domestic students a fee for enrolment or attendance or for delivery of the curriculum (eg subject fees).
- Overview
- Payment types
- What is the donation scheme?
- What can a school or kura charge for?
- How will the funding be calculated?
- Breakdown of schools which have opted-in 2022
- Further information
Overview
There are three types of ‘payments’ related to schools:
- donations
- purchases of goods and services (e.g. pens, lunches)
- attendance dues.
If you are a school board, this guidance will inform you of:
- what you can charge for
- the donations scheme.
If you are a parent/caregiver or whānau, here you will learn:
- details about the three payment types
- about the donations scheme
- where to read specific guidance about your rights, obligations, and other important information regarding donations, fees and the donations scheme.
Payment types
The three types of payments include donations, purchases of goods and services, and attendance dues.
Section 33 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) states that every person who is not an international student is entitled to free enrolment and free education at any state school during the period beginning on the person’s fifth birthday and ending on 1 January after the person’s 19th birthday. This means that state schools cannot charge domestic students a fee for enrolment or attendance, or for the delivery of the curriculum.
Payment type | Requirement | Description |
---|---|---|
Donations | Voluntary |
|
Purchases of goods and services |
Voluntary |
|
Attendance dues |
Compulsory for state-integrated schools and kura |
|
What is the donation scheme?
State and state-integrated schools with an EQI of 432 or higher will be able to choose to receive a payment of $154.13 per student, per year if they agree not to ask parents and caregivers for donations, except for overnight camps. Note, previously this was using the decile system, whereby schools with a decile of 1-7 were eligible.
This initiative is designed to alleviate pressure and expectations on households surrounding donation payments.
How to opt-in
Schools are to opt-in to the donations scheme as part of the July roll return process. For more detail refer to the School Roll Return Guidelines(external link). Activity Centres and Attached units that do not submit a roll return can opt-in to the scheme by completing the Donations Scheme Opt-in form.
School Donations Opt-in form(external link)
For the 2023 year, schools who are currently eligible and still wish to be part of the Donations Scheme should opt-in as normal as part of their 1 July Roll returns.
We'll provide a late opt-in process for school's whose eligibility will change, so they have time to consult with their community about opting-in or out of the scheme. The due date for opt-ins is November 14. You can opt in at Donations Scheme Opt-in Form Survey (surveymonkey.com)(external link)
How the scheme works
Schools that opt-in to the scheme will receive their donations payment as part of their January operational funding instalment. The donations payment will be calculated based on the previous year’s July roll.
For more, refer to our Donation scheme FAQs.
What can a school or kura charge for?
We have developed guidance which makes it clear what schools can charge for and what parents need to pay for.
If you are family/whānau
Read our online guidance here What families/whānau need to know about school/kura donations and payment
If you are a board from a school/kura with an EQI of 432 or higher (eligible and choosing to opt in)
Read our online guidance at Schools and kura with an EQI of 432 and above choosing to opt-in to the donations scheme
If you are school board from a school or school/kura with an EQI of 431 and below (ineligible to or not choosing to opt in)
Read our online guidance at Schools/Kura with an EQI below 431 and Schools/Kura Not Opting In to the Donations Scheme
How will the funding be calculated?
The donations scheme funding will be calculated at $154.13 (GST exclusive) per student, based off the July roll. The July roll is the most recent confirmed roll. For most schools, it is also the most favourable roll to use.
If a school experiences a growth in their roll between the July roll and the following March roll, they will automatically receive additional donations scheme funding for the increase. This funding will be paid as part of the July Operational Funding instalment.
Timeline
Boards who become eligible for the Donations Scheme will be advised that:
- they will have until 1 March of the next year to consult with their communities
- they need to complete an online declaration form and send to the Ministry
School Donations Opt-in form(external link) - funding will be paid as part of their April Operational Funding Instalment
- the funding will be calculated based on the previous year’s July roll return.
Breakdown of schools that have opted in to the donations scheme for 2022 by region, type and decile*
*Note that 2023 data will be updated in 2023.
Education Region | Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2022 | Average Roll Count | Average Amount Going to Schools in 2022 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Te Tai Tokerau | 142 | 28,697 | 4,304,550 | 202 | 30,314 | 144 | 98.6% |
Auckland | 327 | 139,457 | 20,918,550 | 426 | 63,971 | 360 | 90.8% |
Waikato | 217 | 50,628 | 7,594,200 | 233 | 34,996 | 226 | 96.0% |
Bay of Plenty/Waiariki | 157 | 46,595 | 6,989,250 | 297 | 44,518 | 165 | 95.2% |
Hawke's Bay/Tairāwhiti | 158 | 33,196 | 4,979,400 | 210 | 31,515 | 158 | 100.0% |
Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu | 179 | 37,381 | 5,607,150 | 209 | 31,325 | 189 | 94.7% |
Wellington | 169 | 40,056 | 6,008,400 | 237 | 35,553 | 175 | 96.6% |
Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast | 93 | 21,242 | 3,186,300 | 228 | 34,261 | 96 | 96.9% |
Canterbury/Chatham Islands | 140 | 39,869 | 5,980,350 | 285 | 42,717 | 145 | 96.6% |
Otago/Southland | 110 | 16,890 | 2,533,500 | 154 | 23, 032 | 123 | 89.4% |
Total | 1,692 | 454,011 | 68,101,650 | 268 | 40,249 | 1,781 | 95.0% |
School Type | Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2022 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composite | 60 | 17,680 | 2,652,000 | 61 | 98.4% |
Correspondence | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0.0% |
Intermediate | 87 | 39,397 | 5,909,550 | 90 | 96.7% |
Kura | 114 | 12,733 | 1,909,950 | 121 | 94.2% |
Primary | 1163 | 242,273 | 36,340,950 | 1195 | 97.3% |
Secondary | 198 | 137,722 | 20,658,300 | 240 | 82.5% |
Specialist | 35 | 3,719 | 557,850 | 36 | 97.2% |
Other | 35 | 487 | 73,050 | 38 | 92.1% |
Total | 1,692 | 454,011 | 68,101,650 | 1,781 | 95.0% |
Decile | Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2022 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 312 | 62,231 | 9,334,650 | 318 | 98.1% |
2 | 254 | 55,681 | 8,352,150 | 258 | 98.4% |
3 | 244 | 64,449 | 9,667,350 | 247 | 98.8% |
4 | 237 | 69,362 | 10,404,300 | 242 | 97.9% |
5 | 226 | 66,957 | 10,043,550 | 240 | 94.2% |
6 | 212 | 69,240 | 10,386,000 | 231 | 91.8% |
7 | 207 | 66,091 | 9,913,650 | 245 | 84.5% |
Total | 1,692 | 454,011 | 68,101,650 | 1,781 | 95.0% |
Breakdown of schools that have opted in to the donations scheme for 2021 by region, type and decile
Education Region | Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2021 | Average Roll Count | Average Amount Going to Schools in 2021 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Te Tai Tokerau | 141 | 28,338 | 4,250,700 | 201 | 30,147 | 142 | 99.3% |
Auckland | 322 | 137,819 | 20,672,850 | 428 | 64,201 | 359 | 89.7% |
Waikato | 218 | 50,167 | 7,525,050 | 230 | 34,519 | 227 | 96.0% |
Bay of Plenty/Waiariki |
158 | 46,566 | 6,984,900 | 295 | 44,208 | 164 | 96.3% |
Hawke's Bay/Tairāwhiti | 158 | 33,228 | 4,984,200 | 210 | 31,546 | 158 | 100.0% |
Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu | 179 | 37,381 | 5,607,150 | 209 | 31,301 | 187 | 95.2% |
Wellington | 169 | 39,916 | 5,987,400 | 236 | 35,428 | 175 | 96.6% |
Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast | 90 | 20,891 | 3,133,650 | 232 | 34,818 | 96 | 93.8% |
Canterbury/Chatham Islands | 140 | 39,680 | 5,952,000 | 283 | 42,514 | 145 | 96.6% |
Otago/Southland | 108 | 16,503 | 2,475,450 | 153 | 22,921 | 123 | 87.8% |
Total | 1,682 | 450,252 | 67,537,800 | 268 | 40,153 | 1,776 | 94.7% |
School Type | Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2021 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composite | 82 | 20,257 | 3,038,550 | 87 | 94.3% |
Intermediate | 87 | 39,542 | 5,931,300 | 90 | 96.7% |
Kura | 56 | 6,213 | 931,950 | 59 | 94.9% |
Primary | 1189 | 245,463 | 36,819,450 | 1221 | 97.4% |
Secondary | 199 | 134,750 | 20,212,500 | 245 | 81.2% |
Specialist | 35 | 3,570 | 535,500 | 36 | 97.2% |
Other | 34 | 457 | 68,550 | 38 | 89.5% |
Total | 1,682 | 450,252 | 67,537,800 | 1,776 | 94.7% |
Decile | Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2021 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 306 | 61,449 | 9,217,350 | 313 | 97.8% |
2 | 250 | 54,812 | 8,221,800 | 255 | 98.0% |
3 | 242 | 64,436 | 9,665,400 | 245 | 98.8% |
4 | 235 | 68,901 | 10,335,150 | 240 | 97.9% |
5 | 232 | 67,335 | 10,100,250 | 247 | 93.9% |
6 | 207 | 67,310 | 10,096,500 | 229 | 90.4% |
7 | 210 | 66,009 | 9,901,350 | 247 | 85.0% |
Total | 1,682 | 450,252 | 67,537,800 | 1,776 | 94.7% |
Last reviewed: Has this been useful? Give us your feedback