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 chooses to opt-in to the donation 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?
- Decile reviews
- Breakdown of schools which have opted-in 2020
- 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?
From the 2020 school year, Decile 1–7 state and state-integrated schools/kura are able to choose to receive a $150 per student, per year payment if they agree not to ask parents and caregivers for donations, except for overnight camps. This initiative is designed to alleviate that pressure and expectation.
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(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
Download these resources:
New Zealand Sign Language video version:
If you are a board from a decile 1–7 school/kura (opting in)
Read our online guidance here: Requirements for boards of decile 1–7 schools and kura choosing to opt in to the Donations Scheme
Download these resources:
New Zealand Sign Language video version:
If you are Board from a decile 8–10 school or school/kura (not opting in)
Read our online guidance here Requirements for Boards of decile 8–10 schools and kura and schools and kura choosing not to opt in to the Donations Scheme
Download these resources:
New Zealand Sign Language video version:
Requirements about what schools can charge for in different languages
- Chinese [PDF, 286 KB]
- Hindi [PDF, 644 KB]
- Korean [PDF, 597 KB]
- Niuean [PDF, 190 KB]
- Samoan [PDF, 551 KB]
- Te Reo Māori (For families/whānau) [PDF, 189 KB]
- Te Reo Māori (Schools that opt-in) [PDF, 179 KB]
- Te Reo Māori (Schools that opt-out) [PDF, 221 KB]
- Tokelauan [PDF, 193 KB]
- Tongan [PDF, 556 KB]
Decile reviews
Decile 8–10 schools that believe there has been a significant change in their school's roll profile since deciles were last recalculated in 2014 and want to opt in to the donations scheme can apply for a decile review.
If a school applies for a decile review and anticipates that they will be eligible to opt-in to the scheme, they must not ask parents/caregivers for donations in the 2021 school year.
How to apply
This is an annual process and has been completed for 2020. Further information can be found at Decile Review – Education Counts(external link).
If a school applies for a decile review and anticipates that they will be eligible to opt-in to the scheme, they must not ask parents/caregivers for donations in the 2021 school year.
Timeline
Boards who were granted eligibility for the Donations Scheme for 2021 have been advised.
- You will have until 1 March 2021 to consult with your community
- An online declaration form needs to be filled out and sent to the Ministry
- Funding will arrive in your April 2021 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 2021 by region, type and decile
|
School Type |
Schools Opting In |
Roll Count of Participating Schools |
Funding Going to Schools in 2021 |
Total Eligible Schools |
% Opting In |
|
Composite |
79 |
19,936 |
2,990,400 |
86 |
91.9% |
|
Intermediate |
87 |
39,542 |
5,931,300 |
90 |
96.7% |
|
Kura |
56 |
6,213 |
931,950 |
59 |
94.9% |
|
Primary |
1183 |
245,119 |
36,767,850 |
1218 |
97.1% |
|
Secondary |
199 |
135,241 |
20,286,150 |
245 |
81.2% |
|
Specialist |
35 |
3,570 |
535,500 |
36 |
97.2% |
|
Other |
34 |
460 |
69,000 |
38 |
89.5% |
|
Total |
1,673 |
450,081 |
67,512,150 |
1,772 |
94.4% |
|
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 2020 |
Total Eligible Schools |
% Opting In |
|
Tai Tokerau |
139 |
28,138 |
4,220,700 |
202 |
30,365 |
142 |
97.9% |
|
Auckland |
321 |
137,695 |
20,654,250 |
429 |
64,343 |
357 |
89.9% |
|
Waikato |
215 |
49,689 |
7,453,350 |
231 |
34,667 |
227 |
94.7% |
|
Bay of Plenty / Waiariki |
157 |
47,271 |
7,090,650 |
301 |
45,163 |
163 |
96.3% |
|
Hawke's Bay / Tairāwhiti |
156 |
33,168 |
4,975,200 |
213 |
31,892 |
158 |
98.7% |
|
Taranaki / Whanganui / Manawatu |
178 |
37,144 |
5,571,600 |
209 |
31,301 |
187 |
95.2% |
|
Wellington |
169 |
39,917 |
5,987,550 |
236 |
35,429 |
175 |
96.6% |
|
Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast |
90 |
20,891 |
3,133,650 |
232 |
34,818 |
95 |
94.7% |
|
Canterbury / Chatham Islands |
141 |
39,707 |
5,956,050 |
282 |
42,241 |
145 |
97.2% |
|
Otago / Southland |
107 |
16,461 |
2,469,150 |
154 |
23,076 |
123 |
87.0% |
|
Total |
1,673 |
450,081 |
67,512,150 |
269 |
40,354 |
1,772 |
94.4% |
|
Decile |
Schools Opting In |
Roll Count of Participating Schools |
Funding Going to Schools in 2021 |
Total Eligible Schools |
% Opting In |
|
1 |
305 |
61,362 |
9,204,300 |
313 |
97.4% |
|
2 |
248 |
54,691 |
8,203,650 |
255 |
97.3% |
|
3 |
241 |
64,314 |
9,647,100 |
244 |
98.8% |
|
4 |
233 |
68,454 |
10,268,100 |
239 |
97.5% |
|
5 |
232 |
68,116 |
10,217,400 |
246 |
94.3% |
|
6 |
205 |
67,151 |
10,072,650 |
229 |
89.5% |
|
7 |
209 |
65,993 |
9,898,950 |
246 |
85.0% |
|
Total |
1,673 |
450,081 |
67,512,150 |
1,772 |
94.4% |
Breakdown of schools that have opted in to the donations scheme for 2020 by region, type and decile
|
Education Region |
Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2020 | Average Roll Count | Average Amount Going to Schools in 2020 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
|
Tai Tokerau |
138 |
27,434 |
$4,115,100 |
199 |
$29,820 |
140 |
98.6% |
|
Auckland |
314 |
131,795 |
$19,769,250 |
420 |
$62,959 |
358 |
87.7% |
|
Waikato |
208 |
48,381 |
$7,257,150 |
233 |
$34,890 |
224 |
92.9% |
|
Bay of Plenty / Waiariki |
150 |
44,572 |
$6,685,800 |
297 |
$44,572 |
163 |
92.0% |
|
Hawke's Bay / Tairawhiti |
148 |
32,587 |
$4,888,050 |
220 |
$33,027 |
155 |
95.5% |
|
Taranaki / Whanganui / Manawatu |
176 |
36,395 |
$5,459,250 |
207 |
$31,018 |
187 |
94.1% |
|
Wellington |
166 |
38,518 |
$5,777,700 |
232 |
$34,805 |
176 |
94.63 |
|
Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast |
89 |
19,910 |
$2,986,500 |
224 |
$33,556 |
95 |
93.7% |
|
Canterbury / Chatham Islands |
132 |
36,282 |
$5,442,300 |
275 |
$41,230 |
144 |
91.7% |
|
Otago / Southland |
105 |
16,099 |
$2,414,850 |
153 |
$22,999 |
123 |
85.4% |
|
Total |
1,626 |
431,973 |
$64,795,950 |
266 |
$39,850 |
1,765 |
92.1% |
|
Decile |
Schools Opting In | Roll Count of Participating Schools | Funding Going to Schools in 2020 | Total Eligible Schools | % Opting In |
|
1 |
300 |
61,109 |
$9,166,350 |
312 |
96.2% |
|
2 |
234 |
52,763 |
$7,914,450 |
250 |
93.6% |
|
3 |
239 |
62,496 |
$9,374,400 |
246 |
97.2% |
|
4 |
226 |
66,531 |
$9,979,650 |
235 |
96.2% |
|
5 |
231 |
65,993 |
$9,898,950 |
248 |
93.1% |
|
6 |
195 |
60,517 |
$9,077,550 |
228 |
85.5% |
|
7 |
201 |
62,564 |
$9,384,600 |
246 |
81.7% |
|
Total |
1,626 |
431,973 |
$64,795,950 |
1,765 |
92.1% |
|
School Type |
Schools Opting In |
Roll Count of Participating Schools |
Funding Going to Schools in 2020 |
Total Eligible Schools |
% Opting In |
|
Composite |
73 |
18,712 |
$2,806,800 |
85 |
85.9% |
|
Intermediate |
85 |
37,818 |
$5,672,700 |
90 |
94.4% |
|
Kura |
53 |
5,533 |
$829,950 |
59 |
89.8% |
|
Primary |
1163 |
242,911 |
$36,436,650 |
1,212 |
96.0% |
|
Secondary |
185 |
123,161 |
$18,474,150 |
244 |
75.8% |
|
Specialist |
33 |
3,424 |
$513,600 |
34 |
97.1% |
|
Other |
34 |
414 |
$62,100 |
41 |
82.9% |
|
Total |
1,626 |
431,973 |
$64,795,950 |
1,765 |
92.1% |
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