ANN ARBOR PUBLIC Schools’ audits reveal that each year the district takes in around $750,000 in athletic fees, including pay-to-pay fees. The annual $250 pay-to-play fee is waived for kids who receive reduced price breakfast or lunch. However, booster club fees, uniform fees, travel fees and other fees can push the cost of participating in a sport above $1,000 per term. Research published by University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital concludes that pay-to-play fees are keeping a significant number of children nation-wide from playing sports, particularly low-income children.
“Participation in school sports offers so many benefits to children and teens, from lower dropout rates to improved health and reduced obesity. It is significant to have one in seven parents of non-sports participants indicate that cost is keeping their kid out of the game,” said Sarah Clark, M.P.H., associate research scientist at the Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit at the University of Michigan and associate director of the National Poll on Children’s Health.
Notably, among the 58 percent of parents whose child did not play school sports at all, 14 percent cited cost as the reason for non-participation.
These additional fees are imposed by parent groups. While AAPS spokesperson Liz Margolis said that all low-income athletes could have all fees waived, an interview with the Athletic Director at Skyline High School, Jeremy Barkey, elicited a different reply. Barkey said that it was up to parent volunteers for each sport whether various fees could be waived.
In 2013, approximately $2.7 million dollars from the AAPS general fund went to supporting athletics in the district, that was down from $2.9 million in 2012. The 2013 audit of AAPS finances shows that athletic program revenues included $785,374 charged for services, which amounts to almost one-third of the total $2.7 million budgeted for athletics.
“School administrators struggle to balance the budget for school sports without creating obstacles to participation. This poll shows the need for schools to continue to work on options for both low-income families, and families that don’t qualify for waivers but still may need financial help, because the risk of kids dropping out of sports is very real,” Sarah Clark said.
The poll found the average school sports participation fee was $126 per child; while 38 percent paid $0 in participation fees—some receiving waivers for those fees—18 percent paid $200 or more. In addition to the participation fees, parents in the poll reported an average of $275 in other sports-related costs such as equipment and travel.
“So the average cost for sports participation was $400 per child. For many families, that cost is out of reach,” Clark said.
Only 30 percent of lower-income families (those making less than $60,000 per year) have a child playing school sports, compared to 51 percent among families earning more than $60,000 per year, according to the poll.
Notably, among the 58 percent of parents whose child did not play school sports at all, 14 percent cited cost as the reason for non-participation.