Carlsbad Residents Being Charged for Summer School?

A San Diego woman is advocating for many Carlsbad parents who say they are having to pay for their children to attend summer school, a practice which she says is both unfair and against the law.

Sally Smith, an education reformer, told 10 News that she filed a complaint with the state Department of Education, informing them of the families that have to pay to have their children attend summer school in the city.

The summer school program is operated by a non-profit organization, the Carlsbad Educational Foundation.

Its CEO Valin Brown told 10 News that they are not doing anything against the law, since the courses they offer are not remedial, and cannot be used as "makeup classes" if a student fails a course during the regular school year. 

But Smith isn't convinced. 

"The state constitution of California says that schools cannot charge fees for school, that mean extra curricular, co-curricular, summer school," said Smith. "School districts can't charge fees and they can't shift it to third parties, PTO's and foundations. When school district affiliations charge fees, it is the same as the district charging those fees," Smith said.

Brown contends that his organization offers scholarships for students who can't afford classes, and that even students from outside the district zones are eligible to attend the classes. 

Since Smith filed her compliant letter, the state has sent a response.

"California Department of Education sent me a response stating Carlsbad needs to investigate again it's practice of the summer school being run by the foundation," Smith told 10 News.