St. Paul’s Tuition Payment Policy

 

Introduction

We believe our tuition payments are an investment in your child’s education and religious formation.  Therefore, the school’s Board of Christian Day School accepts responsibility for recommendations to the Church Council concerning the amount of tuition, the manner of payment, and, in general, the development of policy in this area of concern.  Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Board to insure that adequate financial resources are available for the school and that enrollment is as available and affordable as possible to all families.

 

Fees

I.                   All fees (registration, technology, extracurricular activities, etc.) are to be paid to the school at the time the application for enrollment is submitted.  Applicants whose fees have not been paid will not be considered by the Board of Christian Day School. 

II.                Those families with a verifiable financial need from the FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment can request alternative fee payment arrangements to be determined by the Board of Christian Day School. 

III.             All fees are non-refundable regardless of the time at which a family may decide to remove their child(ren) from classes or remove their enrollment application for consideration by the Board of Christian Day School. 

 

Tuition Payment

I.                   St. Paul’s Lutheran Church shall subsidize the cost of educating all children who are enrolled in the full-time program at the school.  In most cases this subsidy will account for 50% or more of the education costs though this support is not guaranteed and tuition rates are reevaluated by the Board  each year. 

II.                Families, who are registered members of our church, with children enrolled in the full-time program at the school, shall receive the benefit of a reduced rate of tuition to be determined annually by the Board of Christian Day School. 

III.             All families shall be expected to make tuition payments according to one of the following payment plans.  Each family’s preferred manner of payment must be submitted each year at the time of student registration and must be the same for all members of said family.  Options for payment shall include:

a.       Full Payment. 

                                                              i.      Under this plan, the entire amount of tuition is paid on or before July 15th.  A discount shall be provided for upfront payments and will be calculated as follows:  Total tuition due less ($45 FACTS savings + 3.5% of the total tuition due.)  For example if a family has one member student enrolled and plans to pay in full the discount would be $1750.00 X 3.5% = $63.00 plus the $45 FACTS savings for a total discount of $108.00.

b.      Monthly Payments.    

                                                              i.      Under this plan, the entire amount of tuition is paid monthly over a 10 month period beginning in August through the FACTS Tuition Management Plan.  Those choosing this plan will complete a FACTS agreement form to select either an automatic payment or an invoice to be paid on the 5th or 20th of each month.

 

 

IV.             Late Registrations

a.       Tuition for students registering on or after the first day of school shall be prorated over the number of school days they will be in attendance. 

 

V.                Late Payments

a.       It shall be the responsibility of each school family to keep the Board informed of need to make any changes in their preferred tuition payment plan or adjustments in the amount of tuition expected to be paid.  Without such information, the following policy will apply when tuition payments are received late:

                                                              i.      Full Payment.  If payment is not received on or before July15, the discounted rate of tuition will not apply.  When full payment has not been made by July 15, the family will be contacted within five days by the Board President and/or the Principal concerning the missed payment and alternative tuition payment options will be offered.  If funds are not received according to a new agreement, all tuition payments must be made through the FACTS Tuition Management Plan.

                                                            ii.      Monthly Payments. 

1.      School families who choose the ten month automatic payment plan and miss a monthly payment due to insufficient funds will be assessed a $25.00 missed payment fee by FACTS and may incur a fee from their own financial institution.  The missed payment will be reattempted by FACTS within 20 days.

2.      School families who choose the ten month invoice payment plan and miss a monthly payment will be assessed a $25.00 late payment fee.  This may result if no payment was sent by the responsible party, if a payment was received and returned by the bank, or if the payment received was only enough to cover past due amounts.  The late fee will show on the next invoice as a portion of the amount due.

 

VI.             Delinquent Accounts

a.       First Missed Payment.  The first missed payment will result in the late payment fees being assessed and a written notification of the missed payment will be sent to the family.  The payment will be expected to be paid as soon as possible and/or the next payment date at the latest. 

b.      Second Missed Payment.  When an account becomes two months behind the second missed payment fee will be assessed and a phone call will be made by the Board President and/or the Principal to discuss the situation with the responsible party. 

c.       Third Missed Payment.  When an account becomes three months behind the third missed payment fee will be assessed and a meeting will be required consisting of the responsible party, the Board President and/or the Principal.  The situation will be rectified or the student(s) will be considered for expulsion at the next Board of Christian Day School meeting.

 

VII.          Delinquent Tuition From Previous Years

a.       All previously unpaid tuition must be paid by June 30 if a student is to be considered for reenrollment for the upcoming school year.  Payments are to be made directly to the church. 

 

Tuition Assistance

I.                   A limited amount of tuition assistance is available from the church for school families experiencing economic difficulties.  Normally, requests for such assistance should be made at the time of registration.  However, since such circumstances are often unpredictable, families should not hesitate to inform the Principal and/or Board President of their need whenever it may arise during the year. 

 

II.                Scholarships are for a one year term and will be reevaluated annually.

 

III.             Scholarship preferences:

a.       Member family students

b.      Current non-member family students

c.       New non-member family students

d.      After the initial May 15th registration, preference will be on a first come, first serve basis.

 

IV.             Registration Deadline for scholarship consideration is May 15, 2008 and each May 15 thereafter

a.       scholarship applications must be received no later than May 15 for consideration

b.      scholarship applications received after May 15 will be considered on a first come-first serve basis

 

V.                Only a portion of the scholarship funds should be used each year as determined by the school board

a.       Initially, all scholarship funds available will be used

b.      Remaining funds will be seed-money to support follow-on years

 

VI.             Qualification for scholarship funds will be determined by the FACTS report.

 

VII.          Available funds will be used according to need, as available

a.       If demand for funds exceeds available funds, sponsors will be sought

b.      Sponsor families will be managed by the Pastor, Principal, and School Board President.

c.       Assigned sponsors will provide donations to the scholarship fund according to assigned student need.

d.      Donations to the scholarship fund can be made through the use of pew envelopes.

 

VIII.       Scholarship assistance may be terminated if:

a.       Behavioral problems exist

b.      Student tuition payment is not being met.  

 

IX.             Sponsors are not required to continue support if, said student, tuition payment is not being met

 

Tuition Refunds

I.                   Families withdrawing students prior to the first day of school shall be refunded the entire amount of tuition that has been paid for the current school year.  After the first day of school, tuition refunds shall be prorated over the number of school days each student was in attendance.