School Fees, Fee Waivers, and Ensuring Student Access

Poudre School District is committed to providing students with equitable access to learning and extracurricular opportunities, regardless of family income.

A Consistent Approach to Fees

PSD does not charge fees for required academic programming. Fees may be associated with optional activities such as athletics, clubs, school-sponsored trips, and events, which help offset program costs.

To ensure fairness and transparency, the Board of Education has approved a districtwide fee framework that must be followed by all schools. This framework:

• Defines the types of fees schools may charge.
• Sets maximum limits for those fees.
• Requires that all school fees are listed on the individual school websites and comply with the same standards, regardless of school.

We encourage you to review the Fee Schedule Framework, which is available on the District website. Because every PSD school now follows the same fee categories and the same maximum limits, reviewing it will help you know what to expect for your student: you can see in advance what an activity may cost, understand what each fee helps pay for, and know when a fee waiver is available, no matter which school your student attends. The framework also caps how much any school can charge for a given activity, giving families more predictability and making it easier to plan and budget ahead.

How to Pay Fees

PSD strongly encourages families to pay all fees online through the District’s secure online payment system, which can process electronic checks in addition to debit and credit cards. Online payment, which has long been available to PSD families, helps ensure accuracy and security, provides faster confirmation, and reduces administrative work at schools so staff can focus on supporting students.

To encourage its use, beginning in the 2026–27 school year we have eliminated the transaction and convenience fees that previously applied to online school-related payments. A few things to keep in mind:

• There is no longer any transaction or convenience fees for online.
• Please do not send cash or checks to school with your students. In most cases, school offices are no longer able to accept cash or check payments on-site.

We understand that paying online is not the right fit for every family. If you need to pay by cash or check, please do so in person at the Support Services Center, 2407 LaPorte Ave., 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If traveling to the Support Services Center is not possible, call (970) 490-3540 or email finance@psdschools.org and staff will work with you to arrange another option. 

We are also preparing to move to a new online payment provider in January 2027, which will make paying online easier and more convenient for families.

Fee Waiver Options

To ensure cost does not prevent participation, PSD offers:

• Centralized, private, and respectful handling of fee waiver information.
• Income-based fee waivers for students approved to receive Free or Reduced-Price Meals (FRPM) when accompanied by a Permission to Share form.
• NEW as of January 1: Hardship-based fee waivers for families experiencing temporary or situational financial hardship.
• Automatic waiver eligibility for students identified under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, with no additional paperwork required.

Please note: Schools do not make decisions about fee waiver eligibility. All fee waiver determinations are made through a centralized District process to ensure consistency, confidentiality, and fairness. If you have questions about fee waivers or would like support with the process, please contact finance@psdschools.org rather than the school.

Supporting Students Together

As we look ahead to the coming school year, we are excited about the opportunities for learning, connection, creativity, and growth it brings across our schools. Our shared commitment to equity, access, and student well‑being guides the work we do every day.

Thank you for being valued partners in our school community. Together, we will continue to create welcoming, engaging environments where every student can participate, belong, and thrive.