kaysmom

My d's high school did not charge either but we were asked to provide stamps to mail all the paperwork.

soozievt

^^^THAT'S a good point, Kaysmom. I don't recall being asked but I do recall providing the stamped addressed big envelopes or in some instances, an express one.

freedom_fri911

our fee is $4 per transcript, I believe, but there isn't a rise in price when you go over a certain amount

Mainstage

My D's (private) H.S. College Counselor's Office charged $25 for ea. add'l. transcript mailed after the 6th.

Sarahsmom42

Ouch! Mainstay, can you complain? D had to give an addressed 5x7 envelope and $4.00 for each transcript. The envelope also contained recommendation letters, resume' etc.

Mainstage

Sarahsmom42;
Nope, unfortuneately, they sent out letters stating if $25 per script was not rcvd. then students were not graduating!! This was not a perf. arts school, and not on the same pg.....seemed to gravitate towards the Ivy League schools. The school had performed award winning shows and ea. yr. more and more talent so I think they are starting to "get it" as far as the necessity to send out more than usual applications to arts degrees. (At least I hope so). Having said that, I don't think they will drop the fee as private schools seem to want more and more $$. P.S. We all spent so much during the last audition season didn't we?

soozievt

The paying for high school trancripts is something I had not heard of until this thread. I could see requiring a student to provide the stamped envelopes. Surely the mailing does not cost what some of your schools are charging and so it appears they are charging for the "service." But I think their "service" is to provide this for students. Sending students onto college should be part of their mission. They shouldn't make fees another obstacle or hardship. I think it should be figured into the school budget. Perhaps if someone was applying to some huge amount of schools.....like over 14, I can see them making a point of requiring something for that extra work over and beyond what they are doing per student. But to charge for every transcript (which some of your schools are doing) or for every transcript over five or six (which is too few for those seeking either elite colleges, arts by audition colleges, or seeking merit aid) seems to be giving the wrong message and adding another hardship on top of the app fees and score fees, visits, and what not. I feel this way at least with public school. For private, you do pay for various services. As well, there is an underlying assumption that the students may have the means to pay the fees since they are paying tuition (unless on scholarship), whereas public school is for all regardless of ability to pay. My child is applying to graduate schools this year, and will have to have her college transcript sent. I imagine there will be fees involved but the college is private. I think sending college transcripts is another story.

NotMamaRose

Mainstage, I am one of the folks in shock from hearing that your school charged $25 for every transcript after number 6. Wow! Woo! That policy is obviously meant to discourage kids from applying to more than the traditional -- two safeties, two matches, two reaches -- number of colleges. And paying $25 *would* be discouraging. Was there any leeway in that policy for, say, kids applying to BFA programs in MT, in which competition is known to be so stiff that many kids apply for several more than six? And what about kids from less-than-affluent homes who may be attending that private school on financial aid or scholarships, whose parents don't just have another $200 to throw at the guidance counselor simply for taking a few minutes to print out a few more copies of the kids' transcripts? I do realize that GCs do a lot, lot more than just print out copies, but I think you all take my point. $25 seems excessive. I would be spitting mad if my D's school tried to get away with that.

MichaelNKat

FYI, federal law contemplates that fees may be charged but must be reasonable and not effectively prevent access to records. Based on an individual's circumstances, there could be situations in which a fee could be viewed as excessive.


Code of Federal Regulations:


Title 34. Education

Subtitle A. Office of the Secretary, Department of Education

Part 99. Family Educational Rights and Privacy (Refs & Annos)

Subpart B. What Are The Rights of Inspection and Review of Education Records?

§ 99.11 May an educational agency or institution charge a fee for copies of education records?


(a) Unless the imposition of a fee effectively prevents a parent or eligible student from exercising the right to inspect and review the student's education records, an educational agency or institution may charge a fee for a copy of an education record which is made for the parent or eligible student.

(b) An educational agency or institution may not charge a fee to search for or to retrieve the education records of a student.



Doesn't mean that some of what I'm reading here doesn't stink. When one considers how much parents spend on school taxes and/or private school tuition, asking for more than stamped addressed envelops is gouging, particularly given the educational mission of high schools.

llong39

As I said before, my school is a public school and charges $30 per transcript over 6 and our Guidance office does not even mail them. We as parents so that. There is no leeway for anyone or anything that is listed. At the parent meeting last night I brought the fees up and was told the $30 fee was charged because a student a few years back applied to 19 schools and took up two days of the Guidance Counselor's time. The GC said the money is used for Guidance summer hours. I don't think the people in our town are aware of this. In addition to high taxes, we are being charged additionally for summer hours. The GC also said last night that he attended an Articulation meeting and was told to encourage students to only apply to 3-5 schools because that shows they have visited enough campuses and have really done their "homework." I always thought the number of schools a student applied to was between that student and his/her parents. I don't think the guidance office should have anything to do with it unless their help is solicited. Any thoughts?

llong39

Does the FERPA law apply to High Schools as well as colleges?

soozievt

Llong....I could understand if they wanted to discourage a HUGE number of apps per student. That IS a lot more work and if every kid did it, would be crazy. However, that cap should be raised to about 12 which truly is the max that most students would ever need. If a student wants to send more, a fee could be charged. But charging for ALL fo the transcripts (as some have related is the case at their school) OR charging after the first five or six, seems outrageous to me. A cap before a charge kicks in would be reasonable if the cap was more like 10 or 12, not five or six.

NotMamaRose

llong39, isn't the GC a school employee, paid the same way that any other school employee is paid? My sister is a public school teacher and her salary is her salary, whether she puts in a gazillion hours in the summer planning her year or not. Her system doesn't give her extra money when she comes to school a month before the advent of school to fix up her room, get organized, etc. Of course, if she takes on extra stuff -- like teaching summer school -- she does get paid. But it seems to me that sending transcripts is part of the guidance/college counselor's regular duties.

Sarahsmom42

Mainstage,

The cost of the audition process is pretty enormous when you start adding up application fees, air travel or gas, hotels, food, fees for transcripts, lessons and coaching, music, copies, clothing and dance attire, dance shoes etc. Unfortunately it can be cost prohibitive for some. The cost of the school also played a part for us. D applied to some very expensive schools, but would have only gone there if she would have gotten a large scholarship.

llong39

NotmamaRose:
The only thing I can think of is that they are contracted for so many days a year and the summer is not included. It should be included, and I am sure the voters in my town are unaware that this is going on. I have a little more research to do and then I will email the principal, superintendent, and School Board.
I agree that limit on applications needs to be in place, but 6 is too low. I don't even mind paying $5 per transcript, but it is the $30 after 6 that is ridiculous. Our GC said they can't provide transcripts for $1. It costs more for the paper it is printed on. The whole thing is a mess. And they don't even mail them for you. We pick them up when they are done and send them in ourselves. I really don't mind that because then I can control that aspect of the application process, but I am not happy about paying for the extra summer hours.