SALT LAKE CITY — Utah schools are charging students excessive and unreasonable fees to participate in sports and extracurricular clubs, according to a new state audit.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that in many cases Utah schools also were ignoring fee waivers for low-income students, according to a report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor General released Tuesday.
The report looked at middle and high school programs in 20 districts across the state, including seven charters.
It cost $2,500 to be a member of the cheerleading squad at one school and $2,795 to participate in show choir at another, according to the audit.
The state audit concluded the high fees for sports and clubs are breaking state law.
“When the fees get so high, it becomes so expensive that kids cannot participate,” said Brian Dean, audit manager. “It’s almost a pay-to-play system.”
Utah’s Constitution is unique in that, unlike most other states, it explicitly permits secondary schools to charge fees for activities. But a 1994 injunction from the state’s 3rd District Court found those fees had become…
