Students who could afford the tests won't be getting money back for fees paid to the International Baccalaureate program at San Diego High School.
The California Department of Education overturned its prior ruling that the fees were illegal. That's after San Diego Unified School District provided evidence that students could recieve a regular course grade without taking the I.B. tests.
Parents protested the fees saying they were a violation of the state Constitution's guarantee of a free public education.
State law says: "School districts and schools shall not establish a two-tier educational system, by requiring a minimal educational standard and also offering a second, higher educational standard that pupils may only obtain through payment of a fee or purchase of additional supplies that the school district or school does not provide."
I.B. is an educational tract that focuses on critical thinking and student-led learning projects. Students pay $149 to apply for the tests and then typically take five tests, each with a $94 fee according to one parent.
After parents filed a complaint with the California Department of Education challenging the program, the CDE found the fees to be illegal and ruled the district must return the money by Sept. 14. However, the state then overturned its prior decision and ruled in favor of the school district on Sept. 3, which the district received on Sept. 8.
“We have been operating under past advice from CDE that our program was consistent with California law,” said SDUSD spokesperson Ursula Kroemer.
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The state issued a corrective action to San Diego Unified in regards to how the district handles complaints.
