July 2021

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Glenbard Township High School District 87 assesses fees to all students of the district. School Policy 4:140 defines “school fees” or “fees” as any monetary charges collected by the District from a student or the Parent/Guardian of a student as a prerequisite to the student’s participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the District.

“School Fees” include but are not limited to:

• Charges for use of property (locks, towels, lab equipment)
• Textbooks, electronic devices, and instructional materials
• Field trips during school hours
• Equipment used in varsity and intramural sports or fine arts programs
• Participation in extracurricular activities
• Required class supplies
• Graduation fees
• School health services
• Driver’s education fees
• Student Activity Pass

Administrative procedure 4:140-AP2 states that the expenses for all items shall be waived to those students who are approved for the waiver. Textbooks and/or electronic devices shall be loaned free of charge to the student approved for waiver. The student will return the textbooks and/or electronic devices upon completion of the course. If textbooks and/or electronic devices are not returned, it is the responsibility of the student and/or parent to pay for these items and fines.

Waiver of School Fees – Expanded Eligibility for the 2021-2022 School Year

Families that receive SNAP, TANF or Income Eligible Medicaid that received a letter indicating they are directly certified by the state will receive a waiver of school fees for the 2021-22 school year. In order to qualify for a waiver of school fees, families not notified of being directly certified will need to apply for the waiver and meet the household income eligibility requirements. 

In an effort to provide our families who are facing extraordinary economic challenges with financial relief, we have doubled the range of income eligibility for school fee waivers for the 2021-22 school year. Families with household incomes double the current federal income eligibility guideline of 130% (now 260%) will now qualify for school fee waivers. For example, a household of six with an income of $92,508 would now qualify for a school fee waiver for the 2021-22 school year.

Eligible families are encouraged to apply for the fee waiver using the instructions below. This is the first year the online application process via PowerSchool is available. Check out a step-by-step video at this link. If a family applies for a waiver of school fees, they must also sign up for our 8-payment plan. For help setting up a payment plan, please click here.

Beginning July 5, 2021,you may access and complete the waiver application one of two ways:

1) Online Through PowerSchool
Instructions for completing the application in PowerSchool can be accessed here:
Fee Waiver Application Cover Letter to Families 2021-2022 – English
Fee Waiver Application Cover Letter to Families 2021-2022 – Spanish
Note: When you complete the application through PowerSchool and click Submit, your application will be submitted.  You will no longer be able to edit the application.

2) Paper Application
A paper application  to download and print can be accessed here:
Fee Waiver Application Cover Letter to Families AND application – 2021-2022 – English
Fee Waiver Application Cover Letter to Families AND application – 2021-2022 – Spanish

You may print, fill out, and mail the completed application with all required income information to Glenbard District 87, Attn: Fee Waiver Processing, 596 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.  Paper copies are also available at your student’s school.

Household Income Eligibility Guidelines for School Year 2021-2022 – For School Fee Waivers
[Household incomes double the current federal income eligibility guideline of 130% (now 260%)]

Evidence required for waiver approval is as follows:

• Letter from Department of Human Services (DHS) citing benefits approved for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program. Link cards cannot be accepted as proof of benefits.
  -OR-
• Verification of total income within the Federal Government Income Eligibility Guidelines (see required documents on next page). Children in foster care may receive a waiver of fees regardless of income.

Household Income includes income from work; unemployment, disability, and social security benefits; child and spousal support; income from rental properties, etc.  To verify current income, applicants must provide the following:

• Copy of two most current pay stubs or most recent benefit statement(s) for all household members with income*, and
• Copy of the most recent W-2 form(s) for all household members with income*, and
• Copy of Pages 1 and 2 of the most recent Federal 1040 tax form showing all dependents AND 1040 – Schedule 1 (if applicable). If your household includes others not listed on your 1040 tax form, you must write all household member names on the application, indicate their relationship to you, and include all income information for the additional household members as instructed above.

 * If you are self-employed and do not receive pay stubs and/or W2 forms, you may submit a 1099 tax form in lieu of a W2 form.  You must submit a record of income and expenses from the business over a recent period of time (e.g. profit/loss record for a period of at least 3 months; copy of Schedule C from your most recent income tax filing, etc.)  Families that do not qualify based on the income criteria above may still apply for waivers by submitting the Application for Waiver of Student Fees. If your income is greater than the guidelines indicated on the previous page, your application will be declined.  However, eligibility may be determined based on extraordinary circumstances such as those referenced below.  If your income is greater than the guidelines BUT you have extraordinary circumstances to be considered in determining eligibility for a waiver of fees, please attach a letter to your application which explains the situation.

• Serious illness in the family
• Extraordinary expenses such as fire, flood or storm damage
• Emergency situations

Applications will be reviewed by District Administration. Notification after decision will be made in the form of a letter to the applicant within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the request. If your application is denied, the letter shall state the reason for the denial and shall inform the parents of their right to appeal, including the process and timelines for that action.

Parents/Guardians who submit an appeal within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of denial shall have the right to explain why the waiver should be granted.  Appeal shall not be decided by the same person who denied the original application.

If circumstances change during the school year, parents may reapply for the waiver.

If the waiver request is denied, the Student Account may be placed on the District Installment Payment Plan.  The District Installment Payment Plan provides families the option to pay fees over the course of the school year.  Families will be required to make timely payments via 1) credit card, 2) ACH debit to a bank account, or 3) Statement Plan, and will be required to keep the account current.  Consequences for nonpayment are as follows:

Sophomore, Junior and Senior year – Student may not attend school dances, specifically Homecoming and Prom.

Senior year – Student may not participate in Graduation Ceremonies.           

Driver’s Education Students – Students enrolled in the Behind the Wheel class must have paid the course fee in full or be consistently making installment payments for the course before course completion record will be forwarded to the Secretary of State to allow student to obtain a driver’s license.

iPad Summer Use – Students who owe money at the end of the school year will be allowed to retain their device, however the device will be disabled by the District over the summer until outstanding fees are paid.  Note:  Students who enroll in summer school and have an unpaid balance will be able to use their device while they are in summer school. (9:010-E2)

Delinquent accounts and Post-Graduation – Unpaid account balances may be transferred to a Collection Agency.

General inquiries regarding fee waivers may be sent to donna_[email protected]  If you have technical questions regarding the Waiver of Fees electronic application or signing up for the Installment Payment Plan, please feel free to contact the following for assistance:

• Glenbard East and Glenbard South:     contact Oscar Perez (630) 942-7744                          
• Glenbard West and Glenbard North:     contact Ginnie Paoletta-Godinez  (630) 942-7745