In Hessen, pupils or their parents do not have to pay for learning material like school books, material for science education or educational software. This is the case for public schools and most private schools. School books can be lent for a certain period of time. The books have to be treated properly, pupils or their parents are responsible for possible damages.
Certain items have to be provided by the pupils / their parents. This is true for writing and drawing material, pocket calculators or music instruments. The school authority has to provide sports equipment and wall maps.
Photocopies should not be used as a replacement for books, they can only be used in the limits of copyrights. It is customary to collect a certain amount of money from every pupil at the beginning of the school year for photocopies. The schoolboard decides about the amount. If the money is not used up, the rest has to be given back to the pupils / their parents at the end of the school year.