The education department is looking to increase student fees for the first time in a decade, including club dues, the cost of newspapers, yearbooks and other basic student purchases.

Graduation caps and gowns could see the biggest price jump, from $25 to $125 starting next year. But some Board of Education members, who are responsible for approving many fee raises, have raised concerns that price hikes could prevent students from participating in important school events. 

Since 2011, high schools have been able to charge students a maximum of $25 for caps and gowns, according to a memo from Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi. It said the maximum price hasn’t kept up with the rising costs of goods. 

The education department doesn’t need board approval to increase the price of graduation gowns. But Hayashi said he’s been waiting to increase the price limit until BOE members review other fees that do require their approval. 

On Thursday, the BOE Finance and Infrastructure Committee will review a proposal that would add $10 to student association fees and club and class dues, which help cover the costs of activities such as prom and field days. If the full board approves the changes later this year, the maximum students would pay for those fees would range from $15 to $20 starting next fall.

Over the years, schools have tried to absorb the costs of providing activities and purchasing items to keep costs low for students, said board member Ken Kuraya. But it’s difficult for schools to keep fees the same for years, he said, and families who can afford it should help pay for the offerings. 

“The student activity fees haven’t kept up with inflation,” he said. “It’s challenging to continue paying for all of these things at the school level.”  

Dozens of students and educators submitted testimony supporting fee increases leading up to Thursday’s board meeting, emphasizing that stagnant fees have put more pressure on schools to fundraise or run clubs on tight budgets.

The department previously tried to secure board approval for the same fee raises in January, but the proposal didn’t receive enough votes to pass. Schools provide financial aid to students who can’t afford the fees — often drawing on community donations — but students may be embarrassed to ask for help or not know how to get it, board member Mary Hattori said at the January meeting.

Costs can also quickly add up for older students involved in multiple clubs, she said, adding that she wanted the department to provide more information about which kids qualify for aid and what the process looks like for families who need assistance.  

“I understand the rationale for this, but I also have concerns,” she said. 

Even without the department’s proposal to increase the maximum costs of caps and gowns, many students were already paying more than $25 for graduation wear. 

Instead of purchasing gowns in bulk and reselling them to students, most schools require their seniors to purchase graduation attire through outside vendors such as Jostens. These companies aren’t subject to the DOE’s price caps and charge around $60 to $80 for a cap and gown. 

Mahina Anguay, principal at Waimea High School on Kauaʻi, said her school has directed students to Jostens for years. Some families like to purchase graduation announcements through the company as they’re buying gowns, she said, and the school doesn’t have enough space to buy gowns in bulk and then distribute them to the senior class. 

Anguay reminds students and families during senior meetings to reach out if they need financial help, and the school partners with community organizations to make sure costs don’t keep students from participating in graduation ceremonies.

On the Big Island, the Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Science charter school does purchase caps and gowns in bulk and resells the graduation wear for $30. After graduation, some kids donate their gowns to the school so future classes can use them for free, and a local nonprofit also provides scholarships to students who need it, said director Steve Hirakami.

Students are sometimes embarrassed to admit they can’t afford gowns, he said, so counselors work closely with families to make sure they receive the help they need.

“It’s really a confidential affair,” Hirakami said. 

Some mainland schools and Hawaiʻi colleges have taken additional steps to ensure that costs aren’t a barrier to graduation. A donation to Kauaʻi Community College has allowed students to receive their caps and gowns for free over the past two years, and the college collects and cleans gowns after graduation to loan to future classes, marketing director Caitlin Fowlkes said in an emailed statement. 

In California, schools must offer caps and gowns for free if they are required for graduation ceremonies, according to guidance from the state education department. Students don’t need to prove financial need to receive a free cap and gown. 

Roy Takumi, chair of the Hawaiʻi education board, said he would support a similar mandate keeping graduation free for all students if the Legislature dedicated money to help schools cover these costs. But it’s unlikely the state will set aside the funds, he said, so families or schools will remain responsible for covering possible price hikes in the coming year.

“It has to come from somewhere,” he said. 

Civil Beat’s education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy.