Sun Prairie Area School District proposes mostly flat 2026–27 student fees; vendor charges drive limited changes

Sarah Chia Clardy, director of secondary teaching, learning and equity for the Sun Prairie Area School District, presented the district’s proposed 2026–27 secondary student fee schedule and said the annual review "must be brought to the Board for approval before Dec. 31."

The proposal keeps the district-controlled consumable and material fees unchanged: $20 for middle school students and $40 for high school students, Clardy said. "The yearly consumable and material fee will remain unchanged," she said, adding that the district’s approach is intended to keep school-related costs "stable and predictable for families."

Most of the adjustments in the proposed schedule are driven by outside vendors rather than by district policy, Clardy said. She cited increases to lifeguard training fees and changes to fees associated with the district’s CNA program, including exam, health-history, background-check, ID badge and drug-testing costs. "Several fees are determined by outside vendors, not by the district," she said.

Clardy also discussed Advanced Placement exam pricing, noting that AP exam fees are set by the College Board and that, beginning in 2026, the AP Capstone seminar and research exams "will cost the same as all other AP exams," which she characterized as a cost savings for students. She added that students may take AP courses without taking the AP exam "with no impact on high school credit or high school grades."

On athletics, the district is proposing flat per-sport fees: $20 per sport for middle school athletes and $100 per sport for high school athletes. Clardy said there are "very few exceptions to these flat fee structures" and directed interested parties to the full written fee schedule for details.

Clardy emphasized the district’s commitment to equity and access. "Most fees may be waived for families who qualify for free and reduced lunch," she said, and families can request a waiver through the district’s online registration system or by calling the nutrition department to request a verbal waiver. The district said these options are intended to ensure that finances do not create barriers to participating in academic or extracurricular programs.

The presentation included a side-by-side chart comparing the proposed 2026–27 fees with the 2025–26 schedule; Clardy said the comparison shows that the majority of district-controlled fees remain flat and that only vendor-driven adjustments appear as changes. She closed by saying the recommendation "maintains consistency for families, limits district-controlled increases, and continues to provide fee waiver options to support access for all students," and that she is "happy to answer any questions" at the board meeting on Nov. 24. The fee schedule must be taken to the board for approval by Dec. 31.