California Districts Face Lawsuit Over School Fees

The New York Times (9/10, Dillon) reports, "Public schools across the nation, many facing budget shortfalls, have been charging students fees to use textbooks or to take required tests or courses. Now," the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California "is suing California over those proliferating fees, arguing that the state has failed to protect the right to a free public education." The suit, "names 35 school districts across California that list on their Web sites the fees their schools charge for courses including art, home economics and music, for Advanced Placement tests and for materials including gym uniforms."