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SALT LAKE CITY — Schools can't deny students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities based on the ability to pay, but parents said sometimes the cost to really play can be much higher than the stated fees.
For some families, fees can be enough of a deterrent that they can't afford for their kids to play.
"There are a lot of kids that don't get to participate, whether because they don't have enough money or they have too many kids in the family, that are also trying to play," said Heidi Alder from the Utah State Office of Education.
Local school boards set the fees for all extracurricular activities.
"The idea is hopefully those participation fees can help cover the costs of that particular activity and sport and be self-sustaining," said Brad Sorensen from the Jordan School District.
Parents are supposed to be informed about all costs up front, but many parents said the fees on paper don't really add up to the amounts coming out of their wallets.
"A lot of time the fees which are being sent to the principal, which are being sent to the board, are much, much smaller than what is actually being charged to a kid come the first day," Alder said.
These costs can be things like $800 for a ballroom dance trip, $150 for a letterman sweater or three costumes for a choir that cost $200.
Parents said there are also things like summer camps and fundraisers which are labeled optional, but end up costing them more.
