In a few weeks, school will return and, with it, comes a new headache for parents: the purchase of school supplies. Although this varies depending on each educational institution, there is a regulation that determined what schools can and cannot ask of students.
Before enrolling students, it is necessary to know that schools must provide parents or legal guardians with the list of school supplies, textbooks, uniforms and other elements that will be used during the 2025 academic year.
This list must be approved by the Board of Directors, as established in Law 115 of 1994 and which was later modified by Law 1269 of 2008.
In said law, it was determined that the institutions They may not require, in any case, fees in money or in kind, bonds, donations in money or in kind, capital contributions or additional fees to those already approved for tuition and pensions.
Likewise, they may not require that the purchased materials be delivered to the educational establishment. In addition, Decree 1075 of 2015 establishes that schools cannot require parents to purchase such materials in the same institution or in businesses owned by the parents’ associations.
Another point to consider has to do with the personal care and cleaning elements for the institution. If that is the case, it is indicated that the collection of these must be made within the payment of the tuition as such and the pension. Therefore, the requirement for toilet paper, towels, disinfectants or supplies for a first aid kit.
In the case of public schools, these are the materials that are generally requested the most.
- Pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, markers, colors, etc.
- Notebooks.
- Folders.
- Drawing and art materials such as crayons, scissors, glue, brushes or temperas.
- Rules, squares and compasses.
- Calculators.
- School uniforms.
Schools also cannot require specific suppliers or brands, as established in article 14 14 of Resolution 17821 of September 30, 2023.
Another point to keep in mind is that they cannot require the student to have more than one daily uniform or sweatshirt.
