What is the Fee Reduction Program?
The Community Services Department's Fee Reduction Program offers a 25%, 50% or 75% discount, to low-income Palo Alto residents based on household income for the following programs:
- Arts & Sciences programs, workshops and classes.
- Recreation and Open Space programs Including: summer camps, classes, swim lessons, middle school athletics, therapeutic classes and lap swim admissions.
Each individual or family in the Fee Reduction Program can access a maximum annual subsidy of $300 per individual. (Example: A family of 4 would have a total of $1200 usable subsidy. 4 family members X $300 = $1200) The subsidy cap of $300 per individual may be "pooled" or "shared". A family of four would have a maximum $1,200 of available subsidy for use by one or all family members. Unused funds do not carry over into another year.
Participants qualifying under the disability guidelines will be provided with a 75% discount and a $300 subsidy cap per person in the household.
Program participants must register for classes in person, or by mail or fax. Fee Reduction discounts no longer apply to online registration. If you wish to register online at full price or if you have already received your maximum subsidy allotment, you may use online registration. Please remember that we are not able to adjust any online registration fees.
Eligibility
Any resident of Palo Alto who meets the household income guidelines and can provide the required documentation to verify low-income or disability.
Any child enrolled in a PAUSD school, regardless of residency status, is eligible if the family meets the low-income or disability guidelines.
Applicants will be required to verify residency, income and present a form of personal identification.
Application Process
Check the eligibility guidelines listed in the application to see if you qualify.
- Download and complete the Fee Reduction Program application.
- Gather the documentation required on the application.
- Mail in, fax or drop off your application and required documents at the Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road.
For drop-in customers without appointments, please allow up to two days for processing application.
You may register for classes and programs at a reduced fee after you have been approved. (It is not possible to get a refund if you already paid the full amount for the class/program). Reductions will only be applied to future registrations.
Fee Reductions are valid for one year. Participants must re-apply annually.
For more information about the Fee Reduction Program, please call the Lucie Stern Community Center at 650-463-4900.
Program terms and conditions subject to revision due to evaluation and funding. Income Guidelines set by the County of Santa Clara are effective as of February 2008.
