Public Education Fair Debt Collection Act

Children Shouldn't be Punished for a Parent's School Debt

In California, children have the right to a free public school education. Despite this, every year students are being punished because their families are unable to pay the increasing fees associated with attending school. Fees from bus rides to physical education clothes are causing parents to go into debt and keeping students from participating in educational field trips and even their own graduation ceremony. Additionally, some districts are going as far as selling the debt to a private for-profit debt collector, further burdening working-class families who are already struggling to survive. This is unacceptable.

Assembly Bill 1974 will prevent children from being brought into the debt payment arrangements between a school and their parent. It does so by banning schools from taking action against a student to collect debt. It also prohibits schools from using private debt collectors.

Please send a letter to your legislator to tell them that the practice of schools using debt collectors to recuperate fees is unfair and has negative consequences for both parents and children. Speak up now!

Recipients

Your State Representative or Representatives

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates from Children's Defense Fund-California.

Remember me. What's this?

Message

* Subject:

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

I am writing in support of Assembly Bill 1974, which would prohibit schools from taking action against a child in an attempt to collect a debt owed by the family.

Increasingly, families are expected to pay more and more in order for their children to participate in school. From bus rides to physical education clothes, parents who lack the resources to keep up with bills from school have increasing opportunities to go into debt with the school district. Some school districts have allowed for actions to be taken against a child when a parent owes the school debt, such as denying transcripts, denying access to the school library, banning participation in graduation ceremony, and preventing participation in educational field trips.

In addition, some school districts also sell the debt to a private for-profit debt collector. Doing so may violate child privacy laws and leverage parents in an unfair way when they can't afford some of the unexpected costs associated with school attendance.

AB 1974 will prevent children from being brought into the debt payment arrangements between a school and their parent or guardian. I urge you to support this important bill.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]