Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance Philosophy and Policy Statement

Once a student has been accepted, Santa Fe Waldorf School (SFWS) is committed to a tuition program that helps all families meet their commitment to a Waldorf education. This includes tuition assistance and sibling discount. At the same time, it is the position of the School that the primary responsibility of financing a child’s education rests with the family, and we expect families to make this education a first priority in the budgeting of their financial resources.

Because SFWS has no endowments, the only mechanism it has for tuition assistance is to reduce a family’s tuition annually on the basis of need, carefully weighing that family’s capacity to pay against the capacity of all other financial-aid applicants. Each year the Board sets a guideline for the assistance available. To be fair to all children and families in the School, the Tuition Assistance Committee must be consistent and equitable in assessing each family’s ability to pay tuition.

The Tuition Assistance Committee is charged with distributing a set amount of school monies in a fair and equitable way to families who request assistance.  Presently, 1/4 of the families receive financial assistance. The range of assistance given generally falls between 5% and 50% of the total tuition costs for an individual family.  The Committee may, under unusual hardship conditions, provide reductions beyond this amount. 

Responsibility of Families

The Board expects that parents will look beyond the School's resources for assistance in paying tuition, out of respect for the School's financial health and for families for whom it is a financial sacrifice to send their children to the School. For instance, some take additional jobs to earn more income, while others receive help from grandparents or take bank loans.

Outstanding Balances

The Committee will determine the amount of assistance with the understanding that it will not be issued until any outstanding balance with SFWS has been settled or arrangements for payment have been officially made with the Business Office.

Timeline for applying

January- February              Obtains forms from the Business Office

February 29, 2008              Deadline for completed forms to be           

                                              filed:

• SFWS Tuition Assistance Application with deposit
• Parents’ Financial Statement with SSS
• Copy of 2007 federal tax form 1040 with all schedules

March-April                      Meetings to make awards

April 30                           Notification of awards toapplicants 

                                      who have met the above deadlines

An applicant family's award consideration will begin after the Business Office has received all necessary completed forms.  You will need to complete your 2007 tax return by February 29, 2008 – prior to the Federal deadline.

Documentation for Divorced or Separated Families

Tuition assistance is determined by a family's financial ability to meet educational expenses. In general, it is the position of the School that divorced or separated parents retain the obligation to contribute to the education of their children whether or not there is a legal agreement between them to do so. The School requests that both natural parents should provide financial information each year. In addition, if the custodial parent has remarried, the stepparent's financial information also should be provided. All parties responsible for tuition payment are requested to sign all documents. If requested information is not provided or available, the custodial parent must provide a written explanation.

Additional Information

There may be times when a family feels that their financial statements do not give a complete picture of the family's circumstances. This is often true in cases of separation and divorce or when job situations change. In these cases, families should include a written explanation of their circumstances with the application.

Change in Finances Mid-Year

A family who experiences an unfortunate change in its economic situation after an award has been granted may apply to the Committee in writing for more assistance. Those families who experience a significant improvement in their economic situation should notify the Committee so that it may determine if the assistance should be adjusted.