The Arlington County School Board approved a measure Thursday that limits the amount parents can spend on their child's teacher.
The board originally proposed a $50 cap on gifts, but later doubled that amount after meeting with the PTA and other organizations, ARLNow.com reported. The policy applies to single donors and aims to stifle any potential favoritism.
The county joins several other local school districts in restricting how much a family can spend on teachers. According to The Washington Post, families in Montgomery County can only spend $100 per calender year on a teacher; individual gifts must cost less than $20. Meanwhile, gift giving is discouraged in Fairfax County.
Homemade gifts would not be counted nor would gifts or monetary donations meant to be used in class, The Post says. Parents could also pool their money to buy a gift, but they would still be subject to a individual contribution of no more than $100.
The policy goes into effect next school year.
